Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop last week welcomed to Canberra the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States, His Excellency Archbishop Dominique Mamberti.
The Archbishop was accompanied by Apostolic Nuncio to Australia, His Excellency Archbishop Paul Gallagher, who will take up the role of Secretary for Relations with States next year.
The meeting marked the first ever visit by a foreign minister of the Vatican in the 40 years of diplomatic relations between Australia and the Holy See.
This year also marked the centenary of the establishment of an Apostolic Delegation in Australia.
Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop hosted lunch for the Archbishop at Parliament House where a range of issues, including the persecution of Christian minorities in Syria and Iraq, the radicalisation of young people and the common threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters, were discussed.
The meeting provided an opportunity to commemorate the strengthening of the relationship between Australia and the Holy See.