Pope Leo XIV received Chilean President José Antonio Kast Rist in an audience at the Apostolic Palace prior to his Wednesday General Audience. Following their meeting, President Kast Rist held bilateral talks with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, to discuss diplomatic relations and international cooperation.
During the high-level discussions, both parties affirmed the strong relationship between the Holy See and Chile, highlighting the pivotal role of the Catholic Church in shaping the nation’s social fabric and supporting spiritual traditions. The dialogue focused on critical shared concerns at both regional and global levels, with specific attention directed toward addressing migration challenges and demographic decline.