Myriam Spiteri Debono, President of the Republic of malta, held a private audience with Pope Leo XIV on Monday morning, March 2, ET at the Vatican and then led a delegation into talks at the Secretariat of State. The meetings addressed the current international situation with particular attention to the Middle East and Ukraine, and included discussions on migration and demographic challenges. The encounters are framed by official statements from the President’s Office and the Holy See Press Office describing cordial exchanges and close Church–State cooperation.
Meetings at the Vatican with Malta delegation
On Monday morning, March 2, ET, Pope Leo XIV received President Myriam Spiteri Debono in a private audience. The President then met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, accompanied by Archbishop Paul R. Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations. The Maltese delegation accompanying the President included Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism Ian Borg and Ambassador to the Holy See Frank Zammit.
A statement from the Holy See Press Office described the talks at the Secretariat of State as cordial and said there was an exchange of views on the current international situation with particular attention to the Middle East and Ukraine. The statement highlighted the good bilateral relations between Church and State and noted fruitful cooperation in various contexts. Migration and the demographic situation were listed among the issues discussed during the meetings.
Immediate reactions and institutional statements
Myriam Spiteri Debono, President of the Republic of Malta, described the private audience with the Pope as “profound and significant, ” a characterization released by the President’s Office. A statement from the President’s Office noted that the Pope spoke at length about global affairs and singled out the Middle East in their conversation. The Holy See Press Office emphasized the cordial tone of the exchanges and the ongoing cooperation between the Vatican and malta across multiple areas of mutual interest.
Quick context and what’s next
The visit is an official state-level engagement: the president led a delegation to the Vatican and made scheduled visits to Vatican ministries and institutions. The presidency also presented gestures of cooperation tied to health and educational links referenced by the President’s Office.
Looking ahead, the President is scheduled to return to Malta on March 3, ET, with Helena Dalli serving as Acting President during her absence. Officials on both sides signaled continued dialogue; observers can expect follow-up contacts on migration and demographic cooperation and possible future invitations tied to bilateral visits highlighted during the meetings.
