European Pharmacists Visit Pope Leo XIV to Highlight Healthcare Access and Vulnerable Communities
European pharmaceutical leaders met with Pope Leo XIV in a Vatican audience to emphasize the social and healthcare value of community pharmacies and their frontline role during public health crises. The delegation from the Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union (PGEU) addressed the Pope on Wednesday, focusing on how pharmacies support vulnerable populations, manage medicine distribution, and humanize healthcare delivery in urban and rural areas alike.
Delegation Leadership and Vatican Presentations
The PGEU delegation attending the audience included Mikołaj Konstanty, president; Ly Rootslane, vice president; Jesús Aguilar, treasurer and president of the General Council of Official Pharmacists’ Associations of Spain; Ilaria Passarani, secretary general; and Giovanni Battista Ivan Bellomo, senior legal affairs advisor. During the visit, Konstanty presented the Pope with a bronze artwork, while Aguilar offered a facsimile reproduction of the Códice Pomar, a 16th-century illustrated catalog of medicinal plants gifted by King Philip II to Jaime Honorato Pomar, the University of Valencia’s first botany chair.
Aguilar told Pope Leo XIV that the historical document reflects scientific heritage tied to patient care. During centuries, we have been custodians of a knowledge oriented to alleviate human suffering and to accompany those who need it most, and that commitment remains fully valid,
Aguilar stated. He added that pharmacies function as human meeting spaces where staff listen, guide, and support individuals experiencing fragility, particularly in small villages and underserved regions.
Artificial Intelligence and Professional Standards in Pharmacy
The discussion also turned toward technological changes within healthcare. The PGEU representatives told the Pope that artificial intelligence must remain at the service of human dignity and stay guided by human judgment. While digital tools can assist with medicine counseling, pharmacists must verify results, explain treatments, and maintain direct dialogue with patients.
Following the Papal audience, the delegation toured the Vatican Pharmacy, directed by Fray Thomas Binish Mulackal. Operating under a vocation of service inspired by Saint John of God, the facility stocks medicines and health products for the sick, backed by a specialized team and regular wellness promotion events.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union (PGEU)?
The PGEU is the association representing community pharmacists, advocating for the profession’s role in public health and patient care.
What historical item was presented to Pope Leo XIV?
Jesús Aguilar presented a reproduction of the Códice Pomar, a 16th-century catalog of medicinal plants originally given by King Philip II to Jaime Honorato Pomar, first titular of the chair of Botany of the University of Valencia.
Who directs the Vatican Pharmacy?
Fray Thomas Binish Mulackal directs the Vatican Pharmacy, which provides medicines, prevention tools, and health support to patients.
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