President meets Vatican leader (Updated)

The crisis in the Middle East and the situation in the wider area were discussed on Friday in a meeting between President Nikos Christodoulides and Deputy Prime Minister Mons Edgar Pena Parra from the Vatican.

Christodoulides spoke about the migrant pressure Cyprus is under from arrivals from Syria and Lebanon, in addition to outlining the island’s proposal for a humanitarian aid corridor to Gaza.

Parra passed on the greetings of the Pope and referred to the strong bonds between the island and the Vatican.

He was accompanied by the ambassador for Cyprus Giovanni Pietro Dal Toso, who is based in Amman.

Parra also met House President Annita Demetriou who lauded the fact that Cyprus has its own ambassador to the Holy See. Demetriou also underlined the importance of the historic visit of Pope Francis to Cyprus in December 2021 and his strong message about the need for peace and reconciliation.

Parra is in Cyprus to attend the Inauguration Ceremony of the Apostolic Nunciature in Cyprus, co-chaired by the Nuncio (Ambassador) of the Holy See to the Republic of Cyprus, Archbishop Giovanni Pietro Dal Toso and the Commissioner of the Holy See in Nicosia, Monsignor Mauro Lalli.