Sergio Mattarella has been the head of state of Italy for 10 years. As the country next-door to the Vatican, it was to be expected that one of Pope Leo XIV’s first institutional meetings would be with the Italian president.
Although they had already greeted each other at the Mass inaugural mass of the pontificate, this was their first official meeting. Pope Leo received Mattarella wearing the red mozzetta and the papal stole. The two then spoke for about 40 minutes.
In the traditional exchange of gifts, there was a tribute to Pope Francis, who had a close relationship with the Italian leader.
MATTARELLA
I went to pay my respects at Pope Francis’ tomb in Santa Maria Maggiore, just before the conclave.
As is customary with heads of state, after the meeting with the Pope, there was a meeting with Cardinal Parolin, the Secretary of State. Among the topics discussed were the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
However, the morning in the Vatican continued on after their discussion. Pope Leo's agenda included five more meetings. One of them was with different ecclesial movements, to whom he spoke about charisms.
POPE LEO XIV
Thanks to the charisms that gave rise to your movements and communities, many people have drawn closer to Christ, found hope in life, discovered the Church’s motherhood, and desire to be helped to grow in faith, in community life, in works of charity, and to bring to others, through evangelization, the gift they have received.
Another of the Pope’s meetings that morning was with the President of the European Council, António Costa, who began his administration in December 2024.
CA
Trans. CRT
