Today the Holy Father Francis received in audience Her Excellency Mrs. Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, president of Malta, who subsequently met with His Eminence Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by the Rev. Msgr. Antoine Camilleri, under-secretary for Relations with States.

During the cordial discussions, the parties evoked the constructive relations that unite the Holy See and the Republic of Malta, and the collaboration between Church and State in favour of the human, social, cultural and spiritual progress of the population, in particular the young, in the light of the centuries-long contribution that Catholicism has offered the country.

Attention then turned to themes of common interest, with particular reference to the prospects of European integration and issues relating to the situation of the Mediterranean area, such as the migratory phenomenon, cooperation in development and interreligious dialogue.