Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said Pope Leo XIV is firmly committed to steering the world away from conflict, following a 45-minute meeting with the Pontiff at the Vatican.
Speaking to journalists afterwards, Mr Martin said: “My sense is he has a genuine desire for an end to the wars that are happening in the Middle East, and the war in Sudan, in particular, and Ukraine,” reports RTE.
He said the specific matter of the Gaza Flotilla did not arise in conversation, but that they had spoken at length about the broader conflict in Gaza, the situation in the West Bank and the Iran War.
“I made the point to him that what enabled us to achieve peace on the island of Ireland was that there was a fundamental political will on all sides, and that seems to be absent in the Middle East, but that is the fundamental prerequisite for peace.
“He was interested in that, and I get the sense that the Pope was really very anxious to try and get the world to move in a different direction to the one that’s moving in at the moment, which is one of increasing conflict and war, which is having terrible effects on people,” reports RTE.
Pope Leo and the Taoiseach met in the Papal Library within the Apostolic Palace.
Mr Martin said the question of clerical abuse in Ireland and the issue of redress for victims also featured in the discussion, reports RTE.
He said he had urged Pope Leo that “every effort would be made to get the religious orders to engage proactively on the matter of redress.”
He noted that the Government had established a commission of inquiry into day schools and boarding schools, with one religious order having come forward, while many others had not, reports RTE.
He said assets were being sold and the Government wanted those proceeds directed towards the redress process.
“The Government will continue its engagement with religious orders, and I think the sense is here that people do need to take ownership of this in terms of religious orders,” he said, reports RTE.
He said he did not wish to put words into the Pope’s mouth, but added: “He’s very clearly of the disposition the church has to have ownership of this.
“We discussed the issue of trauma itself, that it’s not something that [is resolved through] one act or one engagement. He’s very aware of that, that this is an enduring program of work that doesn’t begin with a commission of inquiry or acknowledgement of guilt, but that it has to be worked on constantly and on a continuing basis,” reports RTE.
Pope Leo and Taoiseach discussed need for restoration of multilateralism
Mr Martin said he and Pope Leo also discussed the importance of restoring multilateralism.
“I made the point to him that many powers, including many governments within the European Union and outside of the European Union, are coming together as a countervailing approach in terms of ensuring that multilateralism can hold.
“That can manifest itself in trade agreements, it can manifest itself in technological agreements between different countries and between Europe and other areas,” said the Taoiseach, reports RTE.
“We had a discussion on conflict, and he was interested in the cessation of conflict in Northern Ireland, but also, how does one sustain a peace? How does one nurture peace?
“I pointed out to him that it’s one thing to achieve peace in terms of an agreement, but the much more difficult task is actually nurturing that peace along, building reconciliation, and he was interested in the Irish experience,” reports RTE.
He said he had communicated to the Vatican’s Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin that Ireland stood ready to support peace efforts through its experience and officials who had been part of its own peace process.
“He responded positively to that, because it’s very clear human dignity and suffering, and the end of violence is very much the top priority for Pope Leo,” he said, reports RTE.
He said the Pope would be warmly welcomed to visit Ireland, though acknowledged that the Pontiff’s diary was extremely full.
Mr Martin was also scheduled to meet Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin for a further hour-long engagement, reports RTE.
Pope Leo was inaugurated just over a year ago as the first American pontiff, a spiritual leader widely seen as combining the social justice instincts of his predecessor Pope Francis with some of the more conservative priorities of the late Pope Benedict XVI.
In recent months he has become increasingly vocal in condemning what he has described as the prevailing appetite for war, reports RTE.
While he has not referred to US President Donald Trump by name, Mr Trump has responded angrily to what he interpreted as criticism of US foreign policy.
Following the Vatican engagements, the Taoiseach was due to visit the Pontifical Irish College in Rome to meet the college community and view its archives, before also meeting Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, reports RTE.
Mr Martin is expected to outline Ireland’s priorities ahead of its upcoming EU Presidency, which commences on 1 July.
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