VATICAN CITY, August 21, 2025: In a historic moment, Meghalaya’s Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong was received in a Private Audience by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Wednesday, becoming the first leader from Meghalaya to meet the newly elected Pontiff.
The audience comes barely three months after Pope Leo XIV assumed office as the Head of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City.
During the meeting, Tynsong conveyed the warm greetings of the people of Meghalaya and humbly sought the Pope’s apostolic blessings upon the State. His Holiness graciously imparted his blessings and sent special greetings to the people of Meghalaya, encouraging continued efforts towards peace, unity, and harmony.
The Deputy Chief Minister also apprised the Pontiff of the prevailing situation in Meghalaya and requested his prayers for lasting peace and development. Pope Leo XIV expressed appreciation for the efforts of Meghalaya’s political and religious leaders in addressing the challenges faced by the State, while reaffirming the importance of fostering communal harmony.
The meeting marks a significant milestone in Meghalaya’s history, with Tynsong describing the experience as both humbling and spiritually uplifting.
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Since his election earlier this year, Pope Leo XIV has undertaken several important pastoral and global initiatives, including presiding over the Jubilee of Families, convening a special meeting with Eastern Catholic communities, and addressing the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), where he called for greater global solidarity to combat hunger and food insecurity.
The encounter between Pope Leo XIV and Deputy CM Tynsong is seen as a symbol of spiritual solidarity and a moment of blessing for the people of Meghalaya, reaffirming the State’s enduring ties with the universal Catholic Church.
