During a private audience at the Vatican, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed gifted Pope Leo XIV with traditional Ethiopian coffee and forest honey, highlighting Ethiopia’s rich cultural heritage.
On May 26, 2025, Pope Leo XIV welcomed Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali to a private audience at the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City.
The meeting underscored the Vatican’s commitment to fostering peaceful and respectful dialogue between nations.
During the cordial encounter, Prime Minister Abiy presented the Pope with two symbolic gifts: a selection of Ethiopian coffee beans and a jar of pure forest honey.
The Prime Minister described the coffee as a reminder of Ethiopia’s rich heritage, noting that the country is recognized as the birthplace of Coffea arabica.
The forest honey highlighted Ethiopia’s natural produce and biodiversity.
Pope Leo XIV expressed his appreciation for the thoughtful gifts, and the exchange was marked by a warm and friendly atmosphere.
The meeting highlighted the Pope’s ongoing commitment to fostering peaceful and respectful dialogue between world leaders, continuing the Vatican’s long-standing tradition of promoting unity and diplomacy across nations.
This meeting also reflects the Vatican’s broader engagement with African nations and the global South, emphasizing the importance of cultural heritage and mutual respect in international relations.
The exchange of gifts served as a symbol of the enduring ties between the Catholic Church and Ethiopia, a nation with a rich Christian history and diverse cultural traditions.
