Urooj Niazi 
Vatican diplomat visit Pakistan
The Vatican diplomat visit Pakistan began in Islamabad, where Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations, arrived for a three-day trip from 8 to 10 October 2026. Dawn reported that the visit is the first by a Holy See official in that role.
The trip coincides with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and the Holy See, which adds to its significance, and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar extended the invitation, and Additional Foreign Secretary (Europe) Ambassador Ayesha Ali received the archbishop on arrival.
Dialogue With Government and Faith Communities
Meetings are scheduled with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, with interfaith harmony, dialogue, peace, and regional and international developments on the agenda. The talks reflect Pakistan’s steady commitment to constructive engagement with global partners.
Religious engagement forms a major part of the programme. The archbishop will meet the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Pakistan, attend a conference marking 75 years of ties, visit the Faisal Mosque and interact directly with the local Catholic community, and the itinerary highlights the welcome Pakistan extends to diverse faiths.
Interfaith Diplomacy in a Wider Regional Context
Interfaith diplomacy has gained prominence across the Muslim world, with the Abrahamic Family House on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi serving as a notable example, as explored in How the UAE Promotes Inter-Faith Dialogue Among Islam, Christianity, and Judaism, and the visit places Pakistan within that wider conversation and shows readiness to host high-level religious and diplomatic exchanges.
Sustained dialogue of this kind can support social cohesion at home and strengthen Pakistan’s standing abroad, and follow-up engagement after the visit would help turn goodwill into practical cooperation on peace and community harmony.
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