Audience with the President of the Swiss Confederation

On Friday, 6 May, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father received in audience the President of the Swiss Confederation, H.E. Mr Ignazio Cassis, who subsequently met with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States.

During the cordial talks in the Secretariat of State, the generous service of the Pontifical Swiss Guard was recalled, on the day of the swearing-in of new recruits. Attention then turned to the good existing bilateral relations, noting with satisfaction that the transfer to Rome of the Swiss Embassy to the Holy See is a sign of the desire to intensify reciprocal contact in order to foster collaboration in sectors of mutual interest, especially in the promotion of justice and peace.

This was followed by reference to the current war in Ukraine and its repercussions in Europe, with particular attention to the situation of Ukrainian refugees and displaced persons in need of humanitarian assistance.