This morning, the Holy Father Francis received in audience, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the President of the European Commission, Her Excellency Ms Ursula von der Leyen, who subsequently met with His Eminence Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by His Excellency Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States.

During the cordial discussions, reference was made to the good bilateral relations, recently advanced thanks to the Structured Dialogue between the Parties, and the current initiatives for the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the European Union. Attention then turned to the theme of the human and social development of the continent, also with a view to the recently initiated Conference on the future of Europe.

The parties then considered some issues of common interest, such as the social consequences of the pandemic, migration and climate change, and the recent developments in the Middle East.

From the Vatican, 22 May 2021