Beata Szydło meets with Pope Francis

On Friday, Poland's Prime Minister Beata Szydło held a talk with Pope Francis during an audience in the Vatican. In a statement, the Vatican Press Office described the talks as “cordial” and said the two “noted the positive contribution of the Catholic Church in Polish society.” Particular reference was made to the visit that the Holy Father will make to Poland in the month of July for World Youth Day. "I said that young people are waiting, they are looking forward to his arrival in Poland. We also talked about Polish families, we talked about Poland, the pope expressed his deep thanks. He was glad that programs are being introduced in Poland, including support programs for families," Beata Szydło confirmed after the meeting. Later, the Pope and Prime Minister focused on themes of mutual interest, such as the promotion of the family in the current socio-cultural context and the reception of refugees. Finally, issues of concern to the international community, such as peace and security, the conflict in Syria and the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and the Middle East were also discussed. World Youth Day will take place from 25 to 31 July, with millions of pilgrims expected to flock to Poland.