President Michael D. Higgins will be received by His Holiness Pope Francis, in an official audience in the Papal Library at the Vatican on Monday 22 May.
The President will travel to Rome from Venice, where he will have attended the Biennale, the world’s largest and oldest international art exhibition. At the Biennale, the President will visit the Irish pavilion and meet with artist Jesse Jones and representatives from organisations involved in the exhibition, including Culture Ireland and the Arts Council.
In Rome, the President will have a private meeting with Pope Francis on the morning of Monday 22 May, at which the two leaders will discuss issues of regional and global importance. Following the meeting with the Pope, the President will have a meeting with Cardinal Parolin, the Secretary of State of the Vatican.
In the afternoon, the President will meet with Irish clergy and lay staff working at the Vatican, at a reception at the Irish College in Rome.
