Ukraine, humanitarian assistance in Gaza, the Middle East. These are the main themes in the center of the interview between Pope Leo XIV and Premier Giorgia Meloni, received at the hearing on Wednesday morning in the Vatican.
«During the cordial interviews in the Secretariat of State SThe good relations between the Holy See and Italy were underlined and the common commitment to peace in Ukraine and the Middle East and humanitarian assistance in Gaza has been detected“, The Holy See reported in a note,” in the continuation of the conversation, we focused on some issues relating to bilateral relations, as well as on issues of interest for the Church and the Italian Society “.
After the interview with the pontiff, the premier met the cardinal Pietro ParolinSecretary of State, accompanied by Monsignor Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for relations with States.
It was the first hearing between the Pope and the Premier even if the two had already been seen previously: to the Pontificate Start Mass of 18 Mayfirst, and then on the occasion of Jubilee of the rulers of 21 Junewith a quick greeting and Meloni’s question to the Pontiff if he had “settled” after the election and the first days of pontificate. Even earlier, exactly on May 15, there had been a telephone interview between the two made known by Palazzo Chigi, focused on possible peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
Giorgia Meloni arrived in the Vatican shortly before 11.30, in the courtyard of San Damaso passing through the conciliation. To welcome her the regent of the prefecture of the pontifical house, Monsignor Leonardo Sapienzaand gentlemen of His Holiness. To accompany it a delegation of eleven members, including the vice premiers Antonio Tajani and Matteo Salvini and the Undersecretary of the Prime Minister, Alfredo Mantovano.
The Pope welcomed the prime minister in the Tronetto room: “Very pleasure,” he began. Then in the library the interview behind closed doors, concluded with the photos and the exchange of gifts. Among these, by the Prime Minister, an image dating back to the 1600s of the Angelicum University, where the same Prevost obtained a degree in canonical law. Delivering the gift Meloni recalled the great religious culture of the Institute.
The Pope reciprocated with a volume on Sant’Agostino. At the end, a nod to the top of food safety to be held at the end of July in Ethiopia, a new handshake and the wish for “good work!”.
President Meloni, explained Palazzo Chigi in a note, “reiterated the appreciation for the commitment of the Apostolic See to Peace in Ukraine, Gaza and in all areas of crisis. The Prime Minister also focused on the importance of religious freedom and the protection of Christian communities in the Middle East, who suffered the consequences of the crises and the instability of the area. Finally, the excellent collaboration with religious Catholic organizations for cooperation in Africa was shared as part of the Mattei Plan “.
