Pope Leo XIV has thrown his support behind Labour's decision to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, describing the agreement as a "significant victory" that addresses a "grave injustice".
The pontiff expressed these views whilst receiving displaced Chagos refugees at the Vatican on Saturday.
The American-born Pope welcomed individuals who were among approximately 2,000 residents forcibly removed from the archipelago during the 1960s and 1970s when Britain established the Diego Garcia military installation.
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The displaced community has pursued lengthy legal battles through British courts seeking permission to return to their homeland.
During the Vatican audience, Pope Leo expressed his satisfaction with the treaty arrangement, characterising it as an important triumph in the refugees' protracted campaign to rectify historical wrongs.
The controversial agreement requires Britain to pay £35billion to lease back the Diego Garcia military facility, which UK and US forces have operated since the 1970s.
Sir Keir Starmer's administration initially suggested the arrangement would cost £3.4billion, though Government documents obtained through Freedom of Information requests indicate the actual expense approaches £35billion.
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The pontiff received displaced Chagos refugees at the Vatican on Saturday
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Speaking in French, the Pope declared: "The renewed prospect of your return to your native archipelago is an encouraging sign and 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, in particular the right to live on their land; and no one can force them into exile."
Pope Leo went on to express optimism that Mauritian officials would facilitate the refugees' homecoming.
Conservative shadow Armed Forces minister Mark Francois responded sharply to the papal endorsement, telling The Telegraph: "With great respect to the Holy Father, as I understand it the Vatican are not proposing to cover the £35billion cost to rent back islands and a vital strategic base, which already belong to us in the first place."
He added "that absurd cost would fall squarely on UK taxpayers, irrespective of their religion".
Pope Leo expressed optimism that Mauritian officials would facilitate the refugees' homecoming
| GETTYBeyond financial concerns, the agreement has sparked anxieties regarding security implications connected to China and Russia.
Critics worry about potential strategic vulnerabilities arising from Mauritius assuming control of the territory.
The treaty permits Mauritius to establish resettlement programmes on all islands except Diego Garcia, though it doesn't mandate the return of former residents.
The International Court of Justice determined in 2019 that Britain had illegally separated the islands from Mauritius when colonial rule concluded in the 1960s.
Mark Francois took aim at the Pope's comments, saying it the 'absurd cost would fall squarely on UK taxpayers'
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The UN's highest judicial body had instructed the UK to return the archipelago to Mauritius, located approximately 1,250 miles south-west of the islands.
Reform UK has pledged to revoke the agreement if elected, threatening to cancel Mauritian visas, restrict flights and terminate diplomatic relations unless the islands are returned.
The party labelled the handover an "act of national self-harm".
Philippe Sands, the international lawyer advocating for the Chagossians, stated the Pope's intervention sent "the clearest possible signal" to Britain, America and Mauritius that the Vatican expects the displaced population to return and rebuild their lives.