Antonio Costa received today by Pope Francis at the Vatican

Prime Minister António Costa is received this Thursday by the Pope at the Vatican to thank Portugal for choosing Portugal to host World Youth Day (WYD) and Francis’ visit to the country in August.

According to António Costa’s office, the audience with the Pope, held at the request of the head of the Portuguese government, will begin at 9:00 (8:00 in Lisbon).

The meeting is then joined by the remaining Portuguese delegation, which includes Foreign Minister João Gomes Cravinho and Deputy Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ana Catarina Mendes, who was responsible for organizing World Youth Day (WYD).

After his meeting with the Pope, Antonio Costa will be received by the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, accompanied by João Gomes Craviño, Ana Catarina Mendes and Ambassador Domingos Fesas Vital.

Antonio Costa will also make a short visit to the Vatican Archives and Library.

This will be António Costa’s fourth meeting as prime minister with Pope Francis.

The first occasion occurred at the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome on 25 March 2017, when the European Council met with Pope Francis in the Sistine Chapel.

That same year, in May, the Prime Minister was with Francisco during the first trip of the Pope to Portugal, in particular to the Sanctuary of Fatima, on the occasion of the centenary of the events of Cova da Iria.

The third moment as head of government occurred last August at WYD.

As mayor of Lisbon, António Costa attended a public hearing at the Vatican along with other representatives of the Magellan Network of Cities.

WYD, considered the largest event of the Catholic Church, took place from August 1 to 6 in Lisbon under the presidency of Pope Francis, who also toured the Fatima shrine.

This is considered the biggest event in the Catholic Church. According to the organization, 1.5 million people took part in WYD Lisbon 2023.