Pope meets King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

Pope Francis received King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium on Thursday morning in the Vatican, according to a statement from the Holy See Press Office.

Following the audience with the Pope, the Belgian King and Queen met with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, in the offices of the Secretariat of State.

During the meeting, the statement noted, "satisfaction was expressed at the good relations between the Holy See and Belgium, highlighting the role of Christian faith and the Catholic Church."

The discussions, the communiqué concluded, primarily focused on matters of common interest and some issues of an international nature, with special reference to Africa, the war in Ukraine, and commitment to peace among peoples.

The Belgian royals had traveled to the Vatican in early January to attend the funeral Mass of late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who passed away 31 December 2022.