Irish PM to discuss Middle East conflict with Pope

Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Micheál Martin has arrived at the Vatican for a private audience with Pope Leo XIV.

Martin and his wife Mary were greeted in the San Damaso Courtyard on Friday morning by the Prefect of the Papal Household, Petar Rajic and the papal gentlemen.

Ahead of the visit, the taoiseach said he expects to discuss the conflicts in Middle East, Ukraine and Sudan, along with the ongoing process of reconciliation on the island of Ireland.

He is also expected to outline Ireland's plans for the forthcoming Presidency of the European Union, which begins on 1 July.

The meeting between the taoiseach and the Pope is expected to last up to 35 minutes.

The taoiseach said he was looking forward to the meeting, adding that he has "made peace a defining theme of his papacy".

"We share many common values - a belief in the importance of a rules-based international order, and dialogue and diplomacy as the only route to lasting peace," he said.

"I look forward to exchanging views with him on how we can work together to promote effective multilateralism as the best way to address our many challenges and bring an end to conflict."

The taoiseach said the "role of the church and clergy from all denominations was critical to bringing about peace on this island".

"I will discuss with the Pope the ongoing process of reconciliation, including the difficult but essential work on addressing the legacy of the Troubles."

He said the meeting would also be an opportunity to "reflect" on Ireland's relationship with the Catholic Church, "including the deep pain and trauma of the survivors of clerical abuse and their needs".

The taoiseach will also have a bilateral meeting with the Holy See Cardinal Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin.

Afterwards, he will go to the Pontifical Irish College in Rome to meet members of the college community and view its archives.

Martin is to announce government funding to support the cataloguing, digitisation and preservation of the archive as part of the college's conservation, accessibility, and public outreach project to coincide with the visit.

Later on Friday, Martin is to meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, following a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Thursday.

Former taoiseach Leo Varadkar had a meeting with Pope Francis in 2018 during his visit to Ireland.

It was to the first papal visit to Ireland for 39 years.

Speaking in April 2025, Varadkar said the visit came at a time when relationships with the Catholic Church were "quite difficult".