The Institute for the Promotion of Latin America and the Caribbean (IPDAL) warmly welcomes the recent election of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, underlining his commitment to building bridges between continents and to fostering dialogue as a path to global peace.

In a letter addressed to His Most Reverend Excellency Archbishop Ivo Scapolo, Apostolic Nuncio to Portugal, the President of IPDAL, Paulo Neves, expresses “great joy” at the election of the new Holy Father, emphasising his well-known closeness to Latin America and the universal values he upholds:

“His well-known closeness to Latin America and his clear commitment to peace, dialogue and the building of bridges between peoples and cultures are deeply inspiring to all those who, like IPDAL, work for diplomacy based on understanding and cooperation.”

The letter also praises the Pope’s first words, filled with hope and spiritual guidance, which “reinforce the role of the Church as a defender of dialogue and promoter of global peace” – principles that have equally guided the five editions of the international conference Mafra Dialogues, organised by IPDAL with the support of various international institutions, and in which the Holy See has honoured us with its participation.

The letter concludes with a note of hope and renewal, stating that the election of Pope Leo XIV represents “a renewal of the spirit of openness and communion among continents – so necessary in today’s world.”

With this message, IPDAL reaffirms its commitment to cultural diplomacy and the promotion of global understanding, which are at the core of its work across Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe and Africa.