Moldovan President Maia Sandu meets Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican
Pope Leo XIV and Moldovan President Maia Sandu have met at the Vatican's Apostolic Palace to discuss "the state of peace and security" with a focus on recent developments in Ukraine.
The discussions continued with the Holy See's Secretariat of State, including Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, who is responsible for relations with states and international organisations.
According to a press release from the Vatican Press Office, the meetings were cordial and both sides expressed satisfaction with the "positive bilateral relations" between Moldova and the Holy See, and the desire to strengthen them.
The Moldovan presidency did not announce who would accompany the head of state. However, a photograph released by the Vatican's press service shows her mother, Emilia Sandu, her sister, Veronica, and her foreign policy adviser, Olga Roșca.
The visit comes after the president made her second official visit to Italy since taking office, between September 10 and 12, where she met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and the President of the Italian Senate, Ignazio La Russa.
A press release from the Moldovan presidency said the visit "is part of efforts to strengthen external partnerships, ensure peace in the country, and contribute to regional and European security."
