The Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch, represented King Mohammed VI, Commander of the Faithful, at the official inauguration ceremony of Pope Leo XIV's pontificate, held Sunday morning in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. Several heads of state and government attended the investiture ceremony for Pope Leo XIV, who was elected leader of the Catholic Church on May 8 of this year. Following the ceremony, Akhannouch greeted Pope Leo XIV, who then received the various delegation leaders inside St. Peter's Basilica. On the occasion of the pontifical investiture, King Mohammed VI, Commander of the Faithful, sent a message of congratulations and best wishes to Pope Leo XIV. In his message, the King emphasized that «the Kingdom of Morocco and the Holy See, custodians of long-standing diplomatic and spiritual traditions, are united by centuries-old bonds of esteem and fraternal understanding», adding that «they are also united by their active commitments to peace and coexistence». The King further stated that «the Kingdom, a land of fraternal coexistence among monotheistic religions, tirelessly strives to promote the spirit of solidarity and harmony among peoples and civilizations», expressing his continued commitment to ensuring that «the privileged ties between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Holy See endure in the same spirit of fraternity, friendship, and understanding». The King also expressed hope that these ties «will be further strengthened to support ongoing dialogue between Muslims and Christians, based on universal human values and the shared principles of monotheistic religions».
