Pope Leo XIV met with the delegation of the National Italian American Foundation, which represents more than 20 million Italian-Americans living in the United States.
POPE LEO XIV
Your work to continue to educate young people regarding Italian culture and history, as well as providing scholarships and other charitable assistance in both countries, helps to maintain a mutually beneficial and concrete connection between the two nations.
Pope Leo XIV, who is an Italian-American himself, explained that the Catholic faith was the foundation of hope for many of those who immigrated.
And as a touching gesture, Pope Leo concluded the audience with a blessing in English rather than Latin.
POPE LEO XIV
The blessing is written in Latin, but I think we can do it in English.
The Lord be with you. [And with your Spirit]
Later, the president of the foundation gifted Pope Leo a hat from his American alma mater, Villanova Univertisty, which the Pope immediately tried on to everyone's delight.
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