DFA chief meets Pope Francis

MANILA, Philippines — Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo had a rare chance to meet with Pope Francis in Vatican City on Friday.

Manalo posted on X that he felt blessed to meet the pontiff “and bring him good wishes from (the Philippines), especially from the Filipino Catholic faithful.”

“I conveyed our hopes for his good health, and the joy felt by (Filipino) pilgrims, as they prepare for #Jubilee2025. Truly an auspicious start to my meetings in Italy and Vatican City,” he tweeted.

The DFA chief said he also met with Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the head of Vatican City’s state relations during his visit.

“As a predominantly Catholic nation, the Philippines shares a special spiritual bond with Vatican City,” he said, also posting pictures of his meeting on X.

“We discussed many shared concerns, from climate change, to peace, migration, developments in the SCS/WPS (South China Sea/West Philippine Sea), and the upcoming #Jubilee2025,” Manalo said.