Irish PM Micheál Martin meets Pope Leo XIV at Vatican

Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin arrived at the Vatican on Friday for a private audience with Pope Leo XIV, the latest in a series of high-level diplomatic engagements between Ireland and the Holy See.

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

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

Martin also plans to outline Ireland’s preparations for the Presidency of the European Union, which begins on 1 July.

The taoiseach will hold a bilateral meeting with Holy See Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin.

The private audience with the Pope is expected to last up to 35 minutes.

Martin said he looked forward to the meeting, adding that the pontiff 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 noted that 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,” Martin said.

He added that 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.”

Former taoiseach Leo Varadkar met with Pope Francis in 2018 during the pontiff’s visit to Ireland.

That was the first papal visit to Ireland in 39 years.

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