25 April, 2025

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Pope Francis Receives President of Austria

Attention Drawn to Fraternity, Peace, & Creation

Pope Francis Receives President of Austria
Pope with President of Austria - Copyright: Vatican Media

Pope Francis received President of the Republic of Austria, Alexander Van der Bellen, today, June 7, 2021, in the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace.

According to a Holy See Press Office bulletin, during the “cordial discussions,” satisfaction was expressed for the good bilateral relations between the Holy See and Austria.

Noting “attention then turned to geopolitical issues, at European and international levels,” the statement recalled that “the parties highlighted the role of the Church in the promotion of solidarity in favor of peace and universal fraternity, and in the care of Creation.”

The President subsequently met with Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, accompanied by Vatican Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher.

Deborah Castellano Lubov

Deborah Castellano Lubov is Editorial Director & Senior Vatican & Rome Correspondent for EXAUDI (& Prior, for ZENIT); Author of 'The Other Francis' ('L'Altro Francesco') featuring interviews with those closest to the Pope and preface by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin (currently published in 5 languages); Deborah is also NBC & MSNBC Vatican Analyst. She often covers the Pope's travels abroad, often from the Papal Flight (including for historic trips such as to Abu Dhabi and Japan & Thailand), and has also asked him questions on the return-flight press conference on behalf of the English-speaking press present. Lubov has done much TV & radio commentary, including for NBC, Sky, EWTN, BBC, Vatican Radio, AP, Reuters and more. She also has contributed to various books on the Pope and has written for various Catholic publications. For 'The Other Francis': http://www.gracewing.co.uk/page219.html or https://www.amazon.com/Other-Francis-Everything-They-about/dp/0852449348/