VATICAN CITY – Pope Leo XIV received Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok in a private audience at the Vatican on Saturday, February 21, 2026, the Holy See Press Office confirmed.
Following the audience, President Sulyok met with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, accompanied by Under-Secretary for Relations with States Mihai Blaj, according to a statement released by Vatican News. Discussions centered on the strong bilateral ties between Hungary and the Holy See and the Catholic Church’s contributions to societal development across various sectors.
The officials as well addressed shared interests, with particular emphasis on the central role of the family and the protection of vulnerable Christian communities worldwide. A Vatican News report indicated that the meeting included an exchange of views on current international events, particularly conflict situations, and a shared hope for increased commitment to fostering peace.
Tamás Sulyok assumed the presidency of Hungary in March 2024, following the resignation of Katalin Novák, and was nominated by the Fidesz party, according to information from Wikipedia. Prior to becoming president, Sulyok served as President of the Constitutional Court of Hungary from 2016 to 2024.
The meeting took place as Pope Leo XIV has increasingly focused on international diplomacy, recently meeting with Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa in November 2025, and King Charles III in October 2025, according to reporting from LSM.lv. The Pope has also addressed issues of religious freedom globally, as highlighted by European Times News in October 2025.
