Fijian President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu met Pope Leo XIV at the Apostolic Palace, Vatican City, as part of his official visit to the Holy See. 30 October 2025 Photo: Vatican Media
Fiji's Head of State has met with Pope Leo XIV at the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City, an occasion described by the Fijian government as "a moment of deep spiritual and moral significance".
Fijian President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu met Pope Leo on Friday (Thursday, Vatican City time) as part of his official visit to the Holy See.
Fiji and the Holy See have had formal diplomatic relations since September 1978, focusing primarily on religious matters.
In his audience with the Pope, Ratu Naiqama delivered a personal invitation for him to visit Fiji and the Pacific region "at the earliest opportunity that his schedule may allow", the government said in a statement.
The government said the discussions between the two men focused on "shared concerns for the moral, social, and environmental challenges facing the global community".
The statement added Pope Leo acknowledged the unique vulnerability of Small Island Developing States to the impacts of climate change and commended the Pacific's message of peace and unity.
