Pope receives the King of Jordan

Pope Francis meets with King Abdullah II of Jordan in the Vatican on Thursday, whom Pope Francis has known since the start of his pontificate.

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

Pope Francis received King Abdullah II and his entourage in the Vatican's Apostolic Palace on Thursday morning.

The Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, told journalists there was a "very cordial dialogue," at the private encounter which lasted 20 minutes.

After their conversation this morning, and greetings with the Jordanian delegation, there was the traditional exchange of gifts between the leaders.

The Holy Father presented King Abdullah with a mosaic depicting the papal blessing in St. Peter's Square, the work of mosaicists from the Vatican's Mosaic Studio, as well as volumes of the various papal documents issued throughout the pontificate, including his Message for the World Day of Peace 2024.

King Abdullah II reciprocated by gifting the Pope a metal sculpture made of Arabic letters.

Pope Francis and the Sovereign of the Hashemite Kingdom have known each other since the start of the Holy Father's papacy.

Their first meeting was in 2014 for the occasion of Pope Francis' Apostolic Journey to the Holy Land, which also included a stop in the Jordanian capital of Amman.