All-female Iranian delegation meets Pope at the Vatican

The vice-president of Iran has been invited to attend the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia this year. The invitation was extended during a visit by Shahindokht Molaverdi, Vice-President for Women and Family Affairs, who led an all-female Iranian delegation to the Vatican, which took part in a workshop with a group of Catholic women and met the Pope.

Mrs Molaverdi said she and Pope Francis discussed terrorism and fundamentalism, condemning violence used in the name of religion. “Pope Francis [also] said it is unacceptable and reprehensible that some offend the beliefs and faith of others,” she added.

Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family, said the two delegations found common ground especially on their shared opposition to fertility treatment such as surrogacy. They also agreed on opposition to gender theories “that weaken masculine and feminine identities”, he said.

The meeting has led to speculation that the Holy See could help smooth the path to a new thaw in relations between the US and Iran, after Pope Francis helped to restore relations between the US and Cuba.