The Holy Father Francis received today in audience His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, accompanied by his wife, Her Majesty the Queen Máxima. The Sovereigns then met with His Eminence Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by His Excellency Msgr. Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for Relations with States.

The cordial discussions enabled an exchange of appraisals of certain issues of shared interest, such as the protection of the environment and the fight against poverty, as well as on the specific contribution of the Holy See and the Catholic Church in these fields. Particular attention was paid to the phenomenon of migration, underlining the importance of peaceful co-existence between different cultures, and joint commitment to promoting peace and global security, with special reference to various areas of conflict.

Finally, there was a shared reflection on the prospects of the European project.