Vatican envoy lauds Pakistan’s 'constructive role' in promoting regional peace, stability

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday met with the Secretary for Relations with States of the Holy See, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, with the latter commending Pakistan’s "constructive role in promoting regional peace and stability through mediation, dialogue and diplomacy," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said.

In a statement on X, the Foreign Office (FO) noted that Archbishop Gallagher "is visiting Pakistan to mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and the Holy See."

The statement added that FM Dar welcomed Archbishop Gallagher "and acknowledged the Holy See’s role in promoting peace, interfaith harmony and dialogue, and appreciated the valuable contributions of Pakistan’s Catholic community, particularly in education and health."

The foreign minister also appreciated Pope Leo XIV’s "principled calls for peace and a just resolution of the Palestine conflict," reaffirming Pakistan’s "unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people." Archbishop Gallagher and FM Dar "expressed deep concern over the continuing humanitarian crisis and emphasised the importance of sustained international efforts to advance peace in the region," the FO said.

It concluded with noting that both sides "reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening Pakistan–Holy See relations and promoting mutual respect, understanding and peaceful coexistence among faiths."

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On Wednesday, the FO had announced that Archbishop Gallagher would visit Pakistan from October 8 to 10 on the invitation of FM Ishaq Dar. The visit, the Foreign Office had said, would be the "first-ever visit to Pakistan by a secretary for relations with states and international organisations of the Holy See."

It had added that Archbishop Gallagher would meet FM Dar to discuss matters of mutual interest including interfaith harmony, dialogue and peace, as well as regional and international developments. He is also expected to call on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and interact with members of the Catholic community in Pakistan.

The FO had said that the visit marked an important milestone in the longstanding relations between Pakistan and the Holy See and reflected their shared commitment to further strengthening mutual understanding, cooperation and trust, while promoting interfaith harmony and peace.