Two hours in all. The official visit of the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella, the first to the new Pope, also saw a private interview of about 40 minutes. A face to face in the private library that took place behind closed doors. And during which, a note from the Holy See lets themselves be “different themes”. In the subsequent interview with the secretary of state Pietro Parolin, however, there was talk “of the cordial relations between the two states” and the world crises with “particular attention to the conflicts in progress in Ukraine and the Middle East”. Leone XIV, a red and stole mozzetta, welcomed the President of the Republic shortly before 9 am. Mattarella, who was accompanied by the three children with their respective spouses and the five grandchildren, gave the pontiff a volume of the ‘500 of writings of Sant’Agostino while the Pope donated a bronze medallion and two books, one with the reproduction of works of art preserved in the Apostolic Palace, the other with the message of Pope Francis for Pope Francis. Pace Day 2025. The president recalled his affection for Pope Francis and his touching visit to the tomb of the disappeared Pope.
In the following talks, Cardinal Parolin, accompanied by Monsignor Miroslaw Wachowski, sub-secretary for relations with the States, met with the president and with the Italian delegation composed, among others, by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Vice-President of the Council, Antonio Tajani, by the Italian Ambassador at the Holy See, Francesco Di Nitto, and by the Secretary General of the Quirinale, Ugo, Ugo. “Some social issues have been addressed, with special reference to the contribution of the Church in the life of the country”, says the Holy See.
TO Lion XIV, explained Mattarella meeting, immediately after, the Rondine Cittadella della Pace Association, “I brought Italy’s affection”.