The Pope highly praises the British Prime Minister for handing over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius with a £35 billion deal.

According to a report by British media on August 23, Pope Leo XIV met with a delegation of refugees from the Chagos Islands in Vatican City.

He called the agreement in which Sir Starmer transferred the Chagos Islands to Mauritius for £35 billion a “significant victory” and a repair of the “serious injustice.”

The completion of this agreement marks a ray of hope for the islanders of the Chagos Islands, who, after being forced into exile for decades, have finally seen a chance to return.

Pope Leo XIV's praise is closely related to Britain’s historical actions.

In the 1960s and 1970s, the British government forcibly expelled the indigenous people of the Chagos Islands to build a military base, particularly for the establishment of a naval and bomber base.

This expulsion led to thousands of islanders being displaced.

Over time, these islanders have been fighting in British courts for the right to return home.

The conclusion of this agreement is regarded as a victory in their long-standing struggle.

Sir Starmer had previously agreed to hand over the disputed territory to Mauritius by the end of 2025.

The British Prime Minister stated that this agreement would not only resolve the historical “justice” issue but is also crucial for ensuring the continuation of the Diego Garcia military base, which is jointly used by the UK and the US.

Although the agreement stipulates that the UK will pay £35 billion to transfer the islands, it also plans to lease back the military base to meet military needs.

Pope Leo XIV, during his meeting with the refugee delegation, stated that this agreement was a major victory for the islanders in their fight to “correct a serious injustice.”

The Pope emphasized: “You are hopeful of returning to your homeland, which is an inspiring symbol and a powerful symbol on the international stage: the identity and rights of all nations, especially the right to live on their own land, should be respected by powerful nations.”

He further expressed hope that the government of Mauritius would commit to ensuring the return of the islanders and provide them with support.

The Pope’s remarks were highly praised by representatives of Chagos Islands refugees, who believed that the Pope’s support was significant and reflected the international community's attention to the justice demands of the islanders.

In response to support for this agreement, Conservative Party shadow defense minister Mark Francois raised objections, stating that the £35 billion cost would be entirely borne by UK taxpayers.

He criticized the agreement as “self-inflicted harm” and pointed out that the Vatican would not be paying this cost, which would impose a significant financial burden on the UK.

According to the terms of the agreement, the UK will pay Mauritius £101 million annually and lease back the Diego Garcia base for nearly a century.

Additionally, the agreement establishes a trust fund to benefit the Chagos Islanders.

However, some islanders are concerned that, after the takeover by the government of Mauritius, it may become more difficult for them to return home.

Although the agreement stipulates that islanders may resettle on islands other than Diego Garcia, there is no mandatory requirement for resettlement, leaving the islanders’ future still uncertain.

For a long time, Mauritius has opposed Britain's claim of sovereignty over the Chagos Islands.

The United Nations and the International Court of Justice have repeatedly called for the UK to return the Chagos Islands.

In 2019, the International Court of Justice ruled that when the UK agreed to end colonial rule in the late 1960s, it had illegally split Mauritius and should return the Chagos Islands.

In response, the UK government claimed that the islands were ceded under law, but international public opinion has continued to pressure the UK to comply with international law and UN resolutions.

Additionally, in 2019, the late Pope Francis, during his visit to Mauritius, explicitly stated that the UK should comply with UN resolutions and return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, calling on the international community to pay attention to the legitimate rights of the islanders.

Although the signing of the agreement is a historic victory for the Chagos Islanders, the process is still full of challenges.

Whether the islanders can rebuild their homeland in Mauritius and how the UK and Mauritius balance military needs with the legitimate rights of the islanders will remain a focal point of future diplomatic negotiations.

Sir Starmer's decision and the Pope's support highlight the international community’s concern over historical issues.

However, for the UK government, this massive cost and the management of the military base will undoubtedly become a significant political and financial challenge in the future.