Emma Bonino at the seat for the European elections on 6 June (Ansa)
«An unexpected courtesy visit and a pleasant surprise». For her too, Emma Bonino, who received an unexpected and welcome guest on Tuesday morning: Pope Francis.
On the way back from the Pontifical Gregorian University, where he had met the academic community in the morning, the Pontiff aboard his white Fiat 500L, instead of continuing straight towards Casa Santa Marta, diverted towards a street in the center of Rome.
Francis wanted to stop at the home of the radical exponent, now leader of the party “+Europa,” 76 years old, discharged at the end of last October from the health facility where she was hospitalized.
Following breathing difficulties, in fact, Emma Bonino was admitted to the intensive care unit of the hospital on 17 October.Santo Spirito Hospital in Rome; a week later she was transferred to a private facility in the capital and in recent days she returned home.
The pontiff and the historic radical leader have known each other for years, linked beyond their differences by mutual respect and common commitment on certain issues, from migrants to prisoners. On the way out, they asked him how he found it and Francesco replied: “Very good”.
Already nine years ago, when Emma Bonino fell ill with lung cancer, Francesco had surprised her by calling her at home. She told it herself to Radio Radicale: «He inquired about my health and encouraged me to persevere, which I am doing with all my might…He renewed my commitment to persevering because then the bad grass never dies, but my mother said that they are a resistant grass, not bad. We talked about migrants, poverty and the Mediterranean. I told His Holiness that our boys should be accompanied to visit some beautiful museum, which we also have, of Italian migrations, and that they would see the same faces, the same eyes, the same hopes and the same determination again.”
Today’s It is not the first meeting between the Pontiff and the radical leader. Above all, the theme of migrants and the condition of prisoners were at the center of the dialogues.
On 4 November 2015 Bonino took part in the Wednesday general audience in the Paul VI Hall together with the deputy prosecutor of Rome, Michele Prestipinoand so on Maria Rita Parsi. On that occasion, he presented the new initiatives in favor of refugee children by the foundation “The Peace Factory”.
On 8 November 2016 the Pope received the political exponent in a private audience in the Apostolic Palace. The Vatican Press Office then reported that «the conversation focused above all on the themes of migratory flows, the reception of migrants and their integration».
In February 2016 Pope Francis included Bonino «among the greats of Italy today».
In this list there was the former President of the Republic Giorgio Napolitano and also, among the “forgotten greats”, the then mayor of Lampedusa, Giusi Nicolini. Napolitano author of a “gesture of patriotic heroism” when he accepted the position for the second time. While Bonino «he offered the best service to Italy to get to know Africa». And even if he doesn’t think like the Church, “patience”, said Francis, “we need to look at the people, at what they do”.
