High Commissioner Suveinakama meets secretary of State of the Holy See

The High Commissioner of the Republic of Fiji to the United Kingdom and non-resident Ambassador to the Holy See, His Excellency Mr. Jovilisi Suveinakama, paid a courtesy visit to His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, at the Apostolic Palace on Wednesday, 3 December 2025.

The High Commissioner conveyed the warm greetings of the President of the Republic of Fiji, His Excellency, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, the Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Honourable Sitiveni Rabuka. He also expressed Fiji’s deep appreciation for the audience recently granted to His Excellency the President during his visit to the Holy See last month.

The High Commissioner reaffirmed Fiji’s commitment to strengthening relations with the Holy See, grounded in shared values of peace, human dignity and acknowledged the significant contributions of the Catholic Church in Fiji, particularly in education, health services, youth development, and community resilience.

The meeting highlighted increasing vulnerability of low-lying island nations due to impact of climate change –particularly for small island states that contribute least to global emissions yet suffer the greatest impacts. It further emphasised the importance of climate justice, equitable climate financing, global responsibility for emissions reduction, and the need for stronger pathways for mitigation and adaptation.

The High Commissioner also briefed His Eminence on outcomes from COP30 in Belém, including the commitment to triple adaptation finance and progress on just transition mechanisms. Looking ahead to COP31 in Turkey, High Commissioner expressed Fiji’s appreciation for the Holy See’s continued moral leadership in advocating for the dignity and protection of vulnerable communities.

He shared Pacific region’s vision of an Ocean of Peace – a collective aspiration for cooperation, dialogue, responsible stewardship, and regional stability and also outlined Fiji’s contributions to peacekeeping with emphasis on maintaining peace and goodwill across the Pacific.

The High Commissioner warmly reiterated the invitation extended by His Excellency the President of Fiji to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV to visit Fiji and the Pacific region when circumstances allow and noted that the visit would be a profound source of encouragement for the Pacific.

The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation of Fiji’s commitment to deepening its relationship with the Holy See, and with appreciation for the Holy See’s continued friendship, guidance, and leadership on global moral issues.