Pope Francis meets President Michael D. Higgins during a private audience at the Vatican in 2017. Photo: CNS Pope Francis is to receive President Michael D. Higgins in private audience at the Vatican tomorrow (Friday).
As part of his visit to the Vatican, Mr Higgins will also meet with Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
A communique from Áras an Uachtaráin said that the president will discuss with Pope Francis issues such as development, migration and climate change.
It noted that Mr Higgins has frequently referred to the Pope’s interventions on these issues as “inspirational”.
Speaking at a reception in the Irish Embassy to Italy on Tuesday evening, Mr Higgins said that he was impressed by the Pope’s leadership on issues facing the global community.
It is the fourth meeting between the two men. President Higgins met the Argentine Pontiff briefly following the papal inauguration in 2013. Mr Higgins was again received by Francis at the Vatican in 2017, while the president hosted the Pope at Áras an Uachtaráin during the World Meeting of Families in 2018.
Mr Higgins will be accompanied at the Vatican by his wife Sabina, and it is the couple’s first overseas trip since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.