Mrs. Asmaa James, Sierra Leone’s Deputy Ambassador to Brussels and the Vatican, attended the installation ceremony of Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican in Rome on 17th May 2025.
On 16th May, Mrs. James was among over 50 Heads of Diplomatic Mission accredited to the Vatican who met with the newly installed Pope. During the meeting, Pope Leo XIV emphasized his “first great desire” for a united Church and a united world, seeing it as a “leaven for a reconciled world.”
Expressing concern over global violence and discord, the Pope stated, “for our part, we want to be a small leaven of unity, communion, and fraternity within the world. We want to say to the world, with humility and joy: Look to Christ! Come closer to him!”
Deputy Ambassador James conveyed her honour at participating in the diplomatic meeting, highlighting the importance and timeliness of Pope Leo XIV’s message of peace, particularly noting that “during war and crises, women and children suffer the most.”
