Cyprus president meets the Pope

President Nikos Christodoulides met Pope Francis on Friday at the Vatican, accompanied by his wife Philippa Karsera and Cypriot officials.

Christodoulides and Pope Francis had a private meeting, followed by an audience where the pontiff received the Cypriot delegation.

During the meeting, Pope Francis presented the President with a medal depicting the Basilica of St Peter, while Christodoulides gifted him a silver replica of an olive tree, symbolising peace.

The president and the Cypriot delegation also met the Cardinal Secretary of State of Vatican City Pietro Parolin.

Prior to the meeting, government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said it was a symbolic visit, since it is the first meeting of the president with the head of the Roman Catholic Church and is being held on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic and the Holy See.

Following the engagements at the Vatican, Christodoulides is set to meet a delegation of executives of Italian energy giant ENI at the company’s offices in Rome.

Meanwhile, Cyprus and Italy agreed on a road map to strengthen bilateral relations in meetings held by the president with his counterpart in Rome, Sergio Mattarella and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Speaking to the press on Thursday, the president said the meetings had been lengthy and productive and mentioned the two countries have historical ties and common challenges such as migration.

Christodoulides said he was briefed by Meloni on migration flows and initiatives undertaken by Italy regarding Syrian asylum seekers.