Pope Leo Meets With Chagos Refugees at the Vatican

Vatican City, August 23, 2025 — Pope Leo XIV on Saturday met with members of the Chagos Refugees Group at the Vatican, congratulating them on the success of their decades-long struggle for justice after a treaty secured the return of the Chagos Archipelago to the Republic of Mauritius. The meeting marked a historic moment for the Chagossian people, who were forcibly removed from their homeland more than 50 years ago.

The Pope offered his “wholehearted” encouragement for the group’s actions, emphasising that this achievement represents “a powerful symbol on the international stage: all peoples, even the smallest and weakest, must be respected by the powerful in their identity and rights, particularly the right to live on their land; no one can be forced into exile.”

The pontiff highlighted the significance of the development in addressing what he described as a “grave injustice” endured by the Chagossian people for over half a century. He acknowledged the suffering caused by decades of forced exile and praised the resilience of the community, particularly its women, in their peaceful fight for justice.

Pope Leo urged the authorities of Mauritius and the international community to ensure the Chagossians’ return under the “best possible conditions”. He assured them of the local Church’s continued spiritual support while recognising the hardships of poverty, exclusion, and contempt they have faced since their displacement.

The Chagossians were expelled from the archipelago in the late 1960s and early 1970s when the islands were leased for a U.S. military base. Many were resettled in Mauritius and the Seychelles, where they faced poverty and social marginalisation. The Chagos Refugees Group, founded in 1983, has fought tirelessly for several decades for the right of return for all Chagossians.

Courtesy: Vatican News

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