President George Vella engaged in a private audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican earlier today.

During the meeting, Vella presented the Pope with a donation of six computers on behalf of the Maltese population, to be given to the Madre di Misericordia Clinic.

The clinic, established in 2015 under the initiative of Pope Francis, provides essential healthcare services to individuals facing poverty, marginalisation, and adversity, catering to approximately 6,000 patients annually.

The discussions during the meeting primarily revolved around the robust relations shared between Malta and the Holy See, touching upon various global issues such as the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the volatile situation in the Middle East, and the imperative for fostering just peace and dialogue worldwide.

Vella underscored Malta’s pivotal role in advocating for peace on multiple fronts, both as an elected member of the United Nations Security Council and in his capacity as the Chairperson-in-Office of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) since January.

Emphasising Malta’s constitutional neutrality, Vella reiterated the nation’s commitment to facilitating dialogues not only within the Mediterranean region but also across other global contexts.

The pair went on to deliberate on pressing challenges including irregular migration, the proliferation of weapons in conflicts, and the escalating impacts of climate change.