Prince Albert II Visits the Vatican
Prince Albert II visited the Vatican on 17 January, holding private talks with Pope Leo XIV and senior Holy See officials.
Prince Albert II of Monaco paid an official visit to the Vatican on Saturday 17 January 2026, where he was received in private audience by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV in the private library of the Apostolic Palace.
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During their meeting, the Sovereign Prince and the Holy Father reviewed current international affairs before discussing issues relating to respect for life, the family and human dignity, as well as challenges linked to peace and environmental protection.
These exchanges highlighted a convergence of views between the Holy See and the Principality of Monaco on these matters.
On this occasion, Prince Albert II formally extended an invitation to Pope Leo XIV to visit the Principality of Monaco.
At the conclusion of the audience, the Prince presented the Holy Father with a copy of The Confessions of Saint Augustine that once belonged to Alfred de Vigny and bears annotations in the author’s own hand.
In return, Pope Leo XIV offered the Prince a bas-relief inspired by the icon attributed to Saint Luke, depicting Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
Prince Albert II was subsequently received by His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, and took part in a working meeting at the Secretariat of State with His Excellency Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations.
The discussions formed part of the bilateral relations between the Holy See and the Principality of Monaco, the excellence of which was underlined.
The Sovereign Prince was accompanied by Mr Lionel Beffre, Minister of the Interior, and His Excellency Mr Philippe Orengo, Ambassador of the Principality of Monaco to the Holy See.
The delegation of the Secretariat of State also included Archbishop Simon Kassas, responsible for Francophone states.
This visit forms part of the continuation of the historic ties and ongoing dialogue that unite the Principality of Monaco and the Holy See.