On 17 September 2015, Prime Minister, Minister of State, Minister for Religious Affairs Xavier Bettel will pay an official visit to the Vatican, where he will be received in private audience by His Holiness Pope Francis at the Apostolic Palace.
Discussions between the Prime Minister and Pope Francis will focus on the main issues of European and international politics. Xavier Bettel will also exchange views with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State and Archbishop Paul Gallagher, Secretary for State Relations.
Prime Minister Bettel is also due to be received by Matteo Renzi, president of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Italy for a working meeting. The two governmental leaders will take stock of bilateral relations and will discuss the priorities of the Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of the EU, as well as current topics such as the challenges of the refugee crisis.
The Prime Minister's meeting with the Pope will follow Luxembourg Minister of the Environment Carole Dieschbourg's own meeting with Pope Francis in Vatican City on 16 September 2015.
