Pope Leo XIV invited to visit Brazil during COP30
Brazil’s Vice President, Geraldo Alckmin, handed Pope Leo XIV a letter from President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, inviting him to visit Brazil—particularly for COP30, which will be held in November in Belém, the capital of the state of Pará.
According to the Vice President’s office, the letter was delivered on Sunday (May 18), following Alckmin’s attendance at the Mass celebrating the beginning of the new Pope’s pontificate. In the letter, President Lula also noted that diplomatic relations between Brazil and the Holy See will mark their 200th anniversary in 2026.
COP30 is the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference, an annual meeting where world leaders, scientists, non-governmental organizations, and civil society representatives discuss actions to combat climate change.
“It is an honor to represent the Brazilian government at the beginning of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate and to convey President Lula’s greetings to the head of state of the Vatican and spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church,” said Alckmin during his meeting with the Pope.
Alckmin noted that, by promoting peace, Pope Leo XIV brings “great hope for all humanity.”
The vice president met with Brazilian cardinals and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, at the Brazilian Embassy to the Holy See.
Alckmin returned to Brazil on Sunday.
