Rinkēvičs meets Pope Leo XIV in Vatican, invites him to visit Latvia

Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs attended a private audience with Pope Leo XIV in the Vatican on September 4. During the meeting, the president invited the pontiff to visit Latvia.

This was the first meeting between Rinkēvičs and Leo XIV since Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected the 267th Bishop of Rome on May 8, 2025, becoming Pope Leo XIV. He is the first pope from the Order of Saint Augustine and was born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, USA.

Talks with Holy See leadership

During the visit, Rinkēvičs also met with the Holy See's Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin. The discussion covered bilateral relations between Latvia and the Holy See, including cooperation with the Catholic Church, as well as regional security and support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.

The president expressed appreciation for the Holy See's role in efforts to secure the return of Ukrainian prisoners of war and deported children. He emphasized that Latvia firmly supports the return of all unlawfully relocated and deported children to Ukraine, as well as holding Russia accountable for the crimes it has committed.

Situation in the Middle East

The talks also touched on the situation in the Middle East and the conflict with Iran. Rinkēvičs stated Latvia's position that a solution is needed as soon as possible to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, restore the flow of goods through the Strait of Hormuz, ease shipping threats in the Red Sea, and end the suffering of civilians in the region.