The Italian Catholic prelate has served as the Vatican’s Secretary of State since 2013, and has served as a member of the Council of Cardinals since 2014, the same year he was made a cardinal.
Romanian Senate speaker, Mircea Abrudean, had a meeting with His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See (the second position in the Vatican hierarchy) on Friday.
The visit to the Vatican provided an opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations and an in-depth discussion on the main issues of common interest of foreign policy.
Senator Abrudean, thanked the Catholic Church for its support to the Romanian community and parishes in the diaspora and also appreciated the philanthropic and social activities carried out by the Catholic religious orders in Romania.
The two sides also discussed topics of common interest promoting peace and peaceful conflict resolution, defending human rights and religious freedom, providing humanitarian support. The situation in Ukraine, as well as recent developments in the Middle East regarding the conflict between Israel and Hamas, were also addressed, with a particular focus on humanitarian issues and the steps that both sides are taking for the benefit of those affected.
The Senate speaker appreciated the fact that the Holy See, due to its global coverage, offers a complete geopolitical picture. He reiterated the importance of dialogue in identifying solutions to the problems facing humanity, but also multilateralism.
The meeting was also attended by the Romanian Ambassador to the Holy See, George Bologan.
On the sidelines of his visit to the Holy See, the President of the Senate, Mircea Abrudean, had a meeting with the Romanian students of the Pio Romeno Pontifical College, the only Romanian structure located on the territory of the Vatican, as well as with Fr. Isidor Iacovici, national coordinator for the pastoral care of Romanian Catholics of the Latin rite in Italy and Fr. Gheorghe Militaru, administrative vicar of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy. At the same time, the essential contribution that the “Bambino Gesù” Pediatric Hospital of the Holy See constantly brings in support of thousands of Romanian pediatric patients was evaluated and appreciated.
On Thursday, the President of the Senate was guest of honor at the reception organized by the Romanian Embassy to the Holy See and the OSM on the occasion of the National Day of Romanian Gastronomy and Wine.
PHOTOS | Romania celebrates its gastronomy and wine, this year at the Vatican
