Pope Leo XIV received the President of the Czech Republic, Mr. Petr Pavel, on Monday in the Vatican.

Pavel subsequently met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy See’s Secretary of State, accompanied by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations.

Pavel in a statement on X analyzed the role of the church in ending conflicts in the world, he wrote: “It was a great honor for me to meet Pope Leo XIV in the Vatican.

“The Church has extraordinary diplomatic reach and plays an important role in finding ways to end conflicts. Dialogue is crucial in this time, which is fundamentally shaping the future of Europe.

“The Pope and I agreed that democratic countries are and should continue to be natural partners and should work together for security and peace in the world.

“Eva and I greatly appreciate the fact that the Pope accepted our invitation to the Czech Republic, and we believe that we will be able to welcome him to our country soon.” He added

According to the Vatican News: During the cordial discussions at the Secretariat of State, appreciation for the good diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the Czech Republic was renewed, and the intention to further strengthen them was reaffirmed.”

It added that the discussions focused on issues of common interest and on several socio-political matters of a regional and international nature, with particular attention to the ongoing conflicts, “underscoring the importance of an urgent commitment to peace and to the recovery of the principles and values that underpin international coexistence