Overview
- Lehendakaritza said Pope Leo XIV invited Pradales to take part in the General Audience at the Vatican on May 13.
- The Basque government called the meeting high value and said it strengthens Euskadi’s institutional presence on the international stage.
- Officials said the encounter will create space for reflection and dialogue on global challenges with a focus on peace, democracy, human dignity, and social justice.
- The government set the visit against a period of political uncertainty, citing gains for authoritarian and populist discourse and risks to rights and freedoms.
- The audience comes after a May 6–8 trip to Italy in which Pradales plans to attend Venice Biennale events and meet Italian bishops’ leader Matteo Zuppi and Emilia‑Romagna president Michele de Pascale.