Following the official proceedings, Mr. Akhannouch greeted Pope Leo XIV, who welcomed the various heads of delegations inside St. Peter’s Basilica, continuing the tradition of interfaith and diplomatic engagement.

His Majesty King Mohammed VI sent a message of congratulations to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, following his election to the papacy, in which he asserted that "the Kingdom of Morocco and the Holy See are bound, thanks to their shared long history of diplomatic and spiritual traditions, by deep-rooted ties based on mutual respect and friendly understanding, as well as their active commitment to peace and coexistence."

His Majesty also emphasized that “the Kingdom of Morocco, a land of fraternal coexistence among the monotheistic religions, has consistently continued its efforts to promote a spirit of solidarity and harmony among peoples and civilizations,” expressing His Majesty’s “personal and unwavering commitment to ensuring that these distinguished ties between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Holy See continue, under your leadership, in the same spirit of fraternity, friendship, and mutual understanding.”

On this occasion, His Majesty the King also expressed his hope that these relations would continue to be strengthened “in order to support ongoing dialogue between Muslims and Christians, based on universal human values and the shared teachings of the heavenly religions.”