Mark Carney meets Pope Leo XIV after inaugural mass at the Vatican
Global News
After the mass, Prime Minister Mark Carney briefly met the Pope inside St. Peter's Basilica, alongside his wife and their daughter Cleo.
Prime Minister Mark Carney had a brief audience with Pope Leo XIV Sunday afternoon at the Vatican following the pontiff’s inaugural mass in St. Peter’s Square.
Carney was seated in the second row with his wife Diana for the mass, in a section amongst other world leaders and heads of state.
The prime minister, who is a devout Catholic, was one of the few world leaders to kneel during the blessing of the Eucharist, and was spotted at two instances taking a picture of the Pope on his phone to mark the occasion — before the mass started and after it had concluded.
After the mass, he briefly met the Pope inside St. Peter’s Basilica, alongside his wife and their daughter Cleo.
Carney also met other world leaders at the same time, adding to his growing list of official introductions over the weekend. He held spoke with the prime ministers of Australia, Croatia and Ireland, as well as the presidents of Israel and Nigeria.
Carney had a bilateral meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz earlier Sunday before driving to the Vatican. He had similar meetings with leaders of Italy, Ukraine and the European Union Saturday.
Thirteen Canadian MPs also attended the mass, including Jaime Battiste, who was part of a reception with Canadian Catholic Cardinals on Saturday evening in Rome alongside the prime minister.
The Nova Scotia MP said he was looking forward to hearing how the Pope “sets the tone” for how he will lead.
