Pope Leo XIV Meets Italian President Sergio Mattarella in First State Visit to Italy

“These are strong and effective contributions to building a dignified, peaceful, and prosperous coexistence for all members of the human family,” he said.

On Tuesday, the Holy Father donated 5,000 doses of antibiotics for children in Gaza following the opening of key humanitarian corridors into the city after the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal came into effect Monday.

In light of the 800th anniversary of the death of Italy’s patron St. Francis of Assisi, in 2026, Leo also spoke about the “urgent issue of caring for our ‘common home.’”

“St. Francis taught us to praise the Creator through respect for all creatures, proclaiming his message from the geographical heart of the [Italian] peninsula and transmitting it — through the beauty of his writings and the witness of his life and that of his brothers — across the generations down to us,” he said.

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“For this reason, I believe Italy has received, in a special way, the mission of transmitting to the nations a culture that recognizes the earth as ‘a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us,’” he continued, quoting Pope Francis’ encyclical letter Laudato Si’.

Earlier this month, the Italian Senate approved a bill reinstating the Oct. 4 feast day of St. Francis of Assisi as a national holiday.

Toward the end of his speech, the Holy Father noted Italy’s declining birth rate and called for a “concerted effort” to promote choices at all levels in favor of the family and to uphold and protect life “in all its phases.”

“In particular, I wish to emphasize the importance of guaranteeing all families the indispensable support of dignified work, in fair conditions and with due attention to the needs related to motherhood and fatherhood,” he said.

“Let us do everything possible to give confidence to families — especially young families —  so that they may look to the future with serenity and grow in harmony,” he continued.

In his welcome speech, Mattarella spoke about the “unbreakable bond” between Italy and the Vatican and commended the work of the European Union’s founding fathers, “many of whom had a Christian background” and who rebuilt peace in the region after World War II. 

Recalling Pope Leo’s consistent messages of peace since his election, the Italian president said political leaders have the responsibility to “reject the glorification of conflict” and “foster dialogue and mutual understanding.”

“This peace, as you emphasized, begins with each of us, and that is why it is so essential to disarm, unarm our hearts and disarm our words,” he said.

Kristina Millare is a freelance journalist with a professional communications background in the humanitarian aid and development sector, news journalism, entertainment marketing, politics and government, business and entrepreneurship.