Today the Holy Father Francis received in audience Her Excellency Ms. Kersti Kaljulaid, President of the Republic of Estonia, who later met with His Excellency Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States.

During the cordial discussions, he expressed his appreciation for the good existing bilateral relations, recalling the Holy Father’s visit to Estonia in 2018, for the centenary of the country’s independence. Subsequently some issues of mutual interest were discussed, such as the role of education, social justice, and the protection of creation.

Finally, a number of regional and international issues were addressed, including peace and security, multilateral efforts to prevent and resolve conflicts, with particular attention to the situation in Ukraine, and the challenges regarding the future of Europe.