MANAMA/VATICAN CITY: His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain, yesterday held high-level meetings with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during his official visit to the Vatican City State and the Italian Republic.
According to official statements, discussions with Pope Leo XIV centered on fostering interfaith dialogue, enhancing mutual respect among civilizations, and advancing initiatives promoting global peace and human fraternity. The Crown Prince highlighted Bahrain’s longstanding commitment to promoting religious coexistence and dialogue, a principle underlined by the Kingdom’s historic hosting of the “Bahrain Dialogue Forum” in 2022.
Later, in talks with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni in Rome, both leaders explored ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation across political, economic, and cultural spheres. The Crown Prince underscored the growing opportunities for trade and investment between Bahrain and Italy, noting the importance of building stronger economic partnerships amid shifting global dynamics.
Prime Minister Meloni lauded Bahrain’s role as a regional partner and expressed Italy’s interest in expanding cooperation in renewable energy, infrastructure, and education. She also stressed the significance of Bahrain’s ongoing reforms aimed at economic diversification and regional stability.
Diplomatic observers viewed the Crown Prince’s meetings as part of Bahrain’s broader strategy to consolidate its international relations while amplifying its role as a mediator of dialogue between East and West.
The visit marks another step in strengthening ties between Bahrain and both the Vatican and Italy, with leaders from all sides reaffirming their shared commitment to global peace, development, and intercultural dialogue.