King Mohammed VI has sent a message of congratulations to Pope Leo XIV on the occasion of his investiture as head of the Catholic Church. «As you begin your distinguished mission at the helm of the Catholic Church, it gives me great pleasure to extend my warmest congratulations and best wishes for a pontificate that brings blessings to the Catholic faithful and contributes to the common good of humanity», the King wrote. The Sovereign underscored that the Kingdom of Morocco and the Holy See, both guardians of enduring diplomatic and spiritual traditions, are bound by time-honored ties rooted in mutual respect and fraternal understanding. He added that both are «also united by an unwavering commitment to peace and the principles of coexistence». In this regard, the Sovereign recalled that Morocco, as «a land of fraternal coexistence among the followers of the monotheistic religions», works tirelessly to promote solidarity and harmony among different peoples and civilizations. «It was in this spirit that the late Pope John Paul II made a historic visit to Morocco in August 1985, at the invitation of my revered father, His Majesty King Hassan II—may he rest in peace. In March 2019, the Moroccan people and I had the distinct honor of welcoming Pope Francis to Rabat», the King noted. «Your Holiness may rest assured that I will continue to nurture, under your pontificate, the special relationship between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Holy See in the same spirit of brotherhood, friendship, and mutual understanding», the Sovereign affirmed. He concluded by expressing his hope that «our ties will grow even stronger, in support of ongoing dialogue between Muslims and Christians, grounded in universal human values and the common precepts of the monotheistic faiths».
