Vatican City: In a significant diplomatic engagement, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres arrived in Vatican City for a high-level meeting with Pope Leo XIV. The private audience took place ahead of a formal event at the Paul VI Hall on Wednesday. Although the Holy See did not disclose specific details about the papal conversation, Vatican sources indicated that Guterres appealed to Pope Leo XIV and the Holy See for continued moral and diplomatic support toward fostering peace in global conflict zones.
During the meeting, the two leaders exchanged symbolic gifts, reinforcing the long-standing partnership between the UN and the Vatican on humanitarian and peace-building efforts. The encounter underscored the shared commitment of both institutions to the promotion of human dignity and international solidarity.
Following his discussion with the pope, Secretary-General Guterres held talks with senior Vatican officials, including Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican’s chief diplomat responsible for relations with states and international organizations. The talks focused on pressing international crises, upcoming global summits, and the structural and political challenges confronting the United Nations in today's geopolitical climate.
The Vatican has maintained permanent observer status at the United Nations since 1964 and actively engages in diplomatic dialogue on global issues. Its delegate, Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, frequently voices the Holy See's positions during UN sessions, often emphasizing ethical concerns that diverge from certain UN stances.
One area of ongoing contention involves bioethical and human rights issues. The Catholic Church has consistently voiced opposition to UN policies that promote abortion, euthanasia, gender ideology, and surrogacy. At a Geneva conference last year, the Vatican explicitly condemned surrogacy as a grave affront to the dignity and rights of both women and children and urged the international community to consider a global ban on the practice.
The latest visit by the UN Secretary-General is seen as part of a broader effort to align global institutions around common values in the pursuit of peace, justice, and integral human development. As global crises intensify, the Vatican’s moral authority and soft power diplomacy continue to play a unique and influential role on the world stage.