VATICAN CITY (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Prime Minister Robert Abela met Pope Leo XIV as Malta and the Holy See marked 60 years of diplomatic relations.
Formal ties were established on December 15, 1965. Malta is represented by non-resident ambassador Frank Zammit, while the Holy See maintains a diplomatic mission in Malta at Tal-Virtù, headed by Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Savio Hon Tai-fai.
According to the Vatican press office, the meeting addressed migratory flows, the war in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East. The Maltese government said discussions also covered broader geopolitical issues, civil liberties, climate change and the need for global solutions to migration.
Abela said the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains critical, with Malta backing unhindered access to aid and the protection of civilians in line with international law. He added that following Malta’s recognition of Palestine, the country is now focused on advancing a two-state solution for peaceful coexistence.
Details of the talks were not disclosed, but the two leaders are known to differ on migration policy, particularly regarding refugees and asylum seekers.
Pope Leo XIV has continued the approach of his predecessor, the late Pope Francis, advocating strongly for refugee rights and warning against what Francis termed a “globalisation of indifference.”
Malta, while increasingly reliant on migrant labour, has taken a tougher stance on asylum, including calls to revise the European Convention on Human Rights to allow expulsions and transfers to third countries—moves criticised by NGOs on the day of the visit.
The government said Abela reaffirmed that relations between Malta and the Holy See are grounded in shared values, mutual respect and a commitment to human dignity.
Abela presented the pope with a painting by Maltese watercolourist John Martin Borg, depicting St Augustine and the Augustinian church and convent in Rabat.
The prime minister also met Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, accompanied by Ambassador Zammit.
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(ITALPRESS).
