Pope Francis and President Michael D. Higgins. Pope Francis thanked God “that Ireland has such a wise man as its Head [of State]”, during the latest encounter between the Pontiff and the president.
President Higgins met the Pontiff before meeting Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who was accompanied by Vatican Foreign Minister Archbishop Paul Gallagher.
A Vatican statement disclosed that the two leaders spent their time together discussing a variety of issues currently impacting the world, such as migration and the protection of the environment, with special emphasis given to Ireland, the efficacy of the peace process in the North and the upcoming 26th United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP26) in Glasgow, which Pope Francis is expected to attend.
During their fourth meeting, President Higgins presented the Pope with a Bata Iascaire or a ‘Fisherman’s stick’ made on Inis Mór.
“Today, I did not just meet a man, a president, I met a wise man of today,” the Pope said.
Leaving, the Pope requested that President Higgins pray for him, to which President Higgins responded “Every day”.