Vatican City

28 April 2015

Readout of the Secretary-General's meeting with His Holiness Pope Francis

Ban Ki-Moon, Former Secretary-General

The Secretary-General met this morning with His Holiness Pope Francis on the margins of the workshop, "Protect the Earth, Dignify Humanity."
They had an extensive discussion on the issue of climate change. The Secretary-General said he very much looked forward to the Pope’s encyclical on the subject, which would act as moral voice on the issue.

The Secretary-General also briefed His Holiness on his visit yesterday to the Italian Navy vessel San Giusto where he was briefed on the on-going operations to rescue migrants in the Mediterranean. They had a further discussion on social exclusion, human trafficking and all forms of slavery.  They also exchanged views on the situation in South Sudan.
 

The Pope and the Secretary-General also discussed the role of sport as a tool for education and human development.
The Secretary-General further updated the Holy Father on his Global Education First initiative in the forthcoming global education forum to be held next month in Korea.
 

The Secretary-General also updated the Pope on the ongoing review conference of the Non-Proliferation Treaty in New York. They reaffirmed their commitment to continue to work for a world free of nuclear weapons.
 

Lastly, the Secretary-General said he very much looked forward to the Pope’s visit to the United Nations in September.