Vatican News
VATICAN CITY – President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Saturday held a private audience with Pope Leo XIV at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican, as part of Zimbabwe’s ongoing engagement and re-engagement drive with the international community.
The Head of State, according to The Vatican News was later received by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations.
According to the Holy See Press Office, the meetings reaffirmed “the good relations between the Holy See and Zimbabwe,” with discussions centred on political and economic developments in the country, as well as areas of cooperation with the Catholic Church in healthcare, education, and environmental conservation.
Diplomatic sources said the talks also touched on regional and global issues, with both sides stressing the need to strengthen multilateralism, dialogue, and cooperation among nations.
The Vatican is an influential moral authority on the global stage, and the engagement comes at a time when Zimbabwe is seeking to broaden its international partnerships, rebuild trust with Western institutions, and attract greater support for its development agenda.
President Mnangagwa has repeatedly highlighted the role of the Church in Zimbabwe’s nation-building, particularly in running schools, hospitals, and community programmes that serve millions across the country.
The high-level audience is being viewed by analysts as an opportunity for Harare to reinforce its message that Zimbabwe is “open for dialogue and cooperation” while leveraging the Vatican’s diplomatic networks to soften international attitudes towards the country.
