Vatican City, 15 June 2016 – This morning the Holy Father Francis received in audience the prime minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, who subsequently met with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for Relations with States.

During the cordial discussions, the good bilateral relations between the Netherlands and the Holy See were demonstrated. The parties focused on questions of mutual interest such as the phenomenon of migration, and considered various issues of an international character.