President Seguro Meets Pope Leo XIV to Tackle Global Crises
VATICAN CITY — Portuguese President António José Seguro is set to meet with Pope Leo XIV today during his first official visit to the Vatican. The high-stakes meeting comes at a time when the President says global leaders have increasingly abandoned the tools of diplomacy in favor of conflict.
The audience is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. local time, marking a significant milestone in Seguro’s presidency since taking office in March. Following his private discussion with the Pontiff, the President will meet with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States, before touring the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica.
Diplomacy, War, and Artificial Intelligence
Speaking to reporters ahead of the meeting, President Seguro expressed “great expectation” regarding his dialogue with the Pope. He emphasized that the world needs to hear the Pontiff’s voice on pressing humanitarian crises.
“It is important for us to hear the Pope’s voice regarding people’s concerns: ending wars and ending the suffering of those hit by weapons, as well as those suffering from the rising cost of living,” Seguro stated. He also noted his intention to discuss the ethical implications of artificial intelligence—a central theme of Pope Leo XIV’s recent encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas—and the urgent need to “build more humane societies.”
An Invitation to Portugal in 2027
A key objective of the visit is to formalize an invitation for the Pope to visit Portugal in 2027. That year holds dual significance for the nation, marking the 110th anniversary of the Fátima apparitions and 500 years of permanent diplomatic representation of the Holy See in Portugal.
The President arrived in Rome on Wednesday, accompanied by his wife, Margarida Maldonado Freitas, and a diplomatic delegation. Their first stop was the historic Church of St. Anthony of the Portuguese, a traditional refuge for Portuguese pilgrims in the Italian capital.
Cultural Ties: Honoring Álvaro Siza Vieira
The visit will also feature a prominent cultural tribute. President Seguro is scheduled to inaugurate “Encontro” (Encounter), a sculpture by the world-renowned Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza Vieira, in the Vatican Gardens. The piece was originally part of the Vatican Pavilion at the 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale.
This trip marks Seguro’s ninth foreign journey in his first six months of office. While his predecessor, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, famously made the Vatican his very first stop to honor the Holy See’s 1179 recognition of Portuguese independence, Seguro has maintained a busy international schedule, having already visited Spain, Italy, Luxembourg, the United States, France, and Cape Verde.
The President and his delegation are expected to return to Lisbon this afternoon.
Image: Pexels – Dirk Pothen
