This morning, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, was received in private audience by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. It was the Minister’s first private meeting with the Holy Father.
The cordial exchange, a testament to the strength of the longstanding bilateral relations between Italy and the Holy See, confirmed the full convergence of views on a wide range of political, social and international issues of importance.
The meeting was an opportunity to reaffirm the excellent relationship between the Italian State and the Holy See, marked by harmony and cooperation, as also demonstrated during the Jubilee, and to highlight the importance of the Italian language as a shared linguistic root capable of building bridges between communities worldwide.
During the audience, Minister Tajani informed the Holy Father about the forthcoming Conference of Italophony to be held in Rome on 19 November. The Pope, showing keen interest in the initiative, encouraged the creation of a linguistic community and, above all, a community of shared values around the Italian language, the official language of the Holy See.
The audience also provided an opportunity for an in-depth exchange on major international issues related to mediation and the humanitarian commitments shared by Italy and the Holy See. These included the crisis in Ukraine and support for peace and humanitarian efforts (notably the return of children to Ukraine), as well as the situation in the Middle East, with particular regard to the protection of Christian communities.
Minister Tajani and the Holy Father also discussed the importance of joint initiatives in supporting seriously ill children, particularly through the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Bambino Gesù Paediatric Hospital.