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April 1, 2022Pope Francis, Friday morning, received in audience in the Vatican President Andrzej Duda of Poland, who later met Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher.
The Holy See Press Office said the cordial talks in the Secretariat of State were devoted to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and to security and peace in Europe. In this context, the parties focused primarily on the situation of Ukrainian refugees and displaced persons, and their humanitarian assistance.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), nearly 4 million people have fled Ukraine since Russia began its assault on the country on Feb. 24. Refugees fleeing the war have escaped to the neighbouring countries, primarily Poland, Romania, Moldova, Hungary and Slovakia. Most of the refugees have fled into Poland, which is currently hosting some 2.3 million.
During the meeting in the Vatican, the Holy Father gifted President Duda a medallion of St. Martin and copies of his Message for Peace 2022, the Document on Human Brotherhood and the book on the Statio Orbis of 27 March 2020, by the Vatican Publishing House (LEV).
The Polish President reciprocated with a painting depicting Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński, the Primate of Poland, who died in 1981, a photo album of the events of the first year of his current term, and a series of music CDs featuring works by Polish composer Chopin.
