Minister of Foreign Affairs, Constantinos Kombos, represented on Sunday the president at the enthronement ceremony of Pope Leo XIV. The ceremony took place in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican, in the presence of a large crowd of faithful and dignitaries from around the world.

In a bilingual (English and Italian) post on his personal account on X, Kombos said he was deeply honoured to attend this historic moment. The Minister of Foreign Affairs described the Pope’s call for peace, justice, and human fraternity as “powerful and timely.”

“The Government of Cyprus and its people stand with you in promoting peace, dignity, and unity,” the Foreign Minister stressed in his post, addressing Pope Leo XIV and mentioning the official accounts of the Pope and the President of the Republic of Cyprus.

As previously announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kombos traveled to Rome on Saturday, May 17. After the enthronement ceremony, the Minister of Foreign Affairs was expected to be received in private audience by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV.

Immediately after his meetings in the Vatican, Kombos will depart for Brussels.

After meeting Kombos, Pope Leo XIV referred to the enduring ties and common values connecting the Holy See and the Republic of Cyprus, highlighting Cyprus’ invaluable Christian heritage and its role as a bridge between cultures.

The enthronement ceremony of the first US-born Pontiff attracted a large crowd, with over 200,000 faithful filling the square, while more than 200 official delegations from all over the world were in attendance. Heads of State and Government, as well as other state officials, honored this important event for the Roman Catholic Church with their presence.

For his part, Pope Leo XIV highlighted the enduring ties and common values that unite the Holy See and the Republic of Cyprus, recalling the island’s historic Christian heritage and its role as a bridge between cultures and faiths, the announcement concludes.