UNHCR’s Salih praises His Holiness Pope Leo XIV's vision for peace and welcomes Italy’s commitment to international cooperation

ROME - On his first official visit to the Holy See and Italy, the new United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih praised His Holiness Pope Leo XIV's vision for working towards global peace and recognized Italy's contribution to humanitarian values and multilateral efforts, during meetings with President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

In a global context increasingly marked by conflict and violence - leaving more than 117 million people forcibly displaced, nearly double the figure a decade ago - Salih praised Pope Leo XIV's drive for peace, grounded in dialogue, respect for international law, and the protection of civilians. He also expressed deep concern over the unresolved conflicts and widespread human rights abuses that continue to drive displacement, underscoring the need for strengthened cooperation between states to safeguard refugee protection.

"We are in complete harmony with His Holiness and the Holy See on the need to address complex global humanitarian challenges and to protect people fleeing war and persecution," Salih said. "Our cooperation with the Holy See is paramount, recognising its vital moral, diplomatic and operational role in promoting solidarity and durable solutions for refugees."

Salih also met Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations at the Secretariat of State of the Holy See. They reaffirmed the long-standing commitment to cooperation between UNHCR and the Holy See, rooted in shared principles.

In Rome, the High Commissioner was received by President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella. Salih expressed gratitude for his personal and institutional commitment to humanitarian values, international cooperation and support for vulnerable people. The High Commissioner shared updates on the main displacement crises such as the conflict in Sudan, developments in Syria amid the prospects on returns, Ukraine and the protracted Rohingya crisis, underscoring the importance of the dialogue with Italy as a key partner on protection and solutions for refugees, internally displaced and stateless people.

During his conversation with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the High Commissioner expressed his solidarity for the people affected by the floods in Sicily. He praised Italy for its continued international engagement, including through the Rome Process and the Mattei Plan, as well as for its support to UNHCR. At a time of mounting pressure on humanitarian budgets, Italy sends a strong signal of solidarity for international protection.

Salih reaffirmed UNHCR's role as a constructive partner on forced displacement and expressed confidence that the partnership with Italy can help reaffirm the importance of humanitarian principles in the face of current global challenges, through a value-based and solutions-oriented approach. In this regard, he commended Italy's leadership in advancing safe and legal pathways, including humanitarian, educational and labour pathways supported by Italian businesses, academia and civil society as a model that advances protection, economic opportunity and social cohesion.

"When refugees are protected and included and when we tap into their ingenuity and talent, they can rebuild and contribute to the societies that host them. This is the direction of travel," Salih added.

Salih was elected by the United Nations General Assembly in New York and took office on 1 January 2026, succeeding Filippo Grandi. He brings to his mandate extensive international political and diplomatic experience at senior level, including in crisis settings and complex dialogue processes, which will support UNHCR's work to protect refugees, uphold international law and advance durable solutions.

Media contacts:

• In Geneva: Matthew Saltmarsh: [email protected], +41 79 967 99 36
• In Rome, Federico Fossi, [email protected], +39 349 0843461

Notes:

The Rome Process, launched in 2023, is a multi-year platform for countries from the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Africa, the Gulf, the EU and key multilateral institutions. It aims to expand safe and legal pathways and counter human trafficking and migrant smuggling. The Mattei Plan for Africa, launched in 2024, it is Italy's overarching framework for economic and development cooperation and equitable partnerships with African countries across five pillars: education, agriculture, health, water, and energy. It covers 14 countries.

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