let’s reflect on peace –

A message of best wishes and closeness. The President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, sent a message to Pope Francis on the occasion of the eleventh anniversary of the beginning of the Pontificate. “I would like to convey to you my heartfelt wishes for every well-being and fruitful continuation of your high Magisterium. Over the last year your incessant appeals for the protection of the needy, the marginalized, those who suffer due to conflicts and violence, and to peace have offered food for thought for those who are sincerely engaged in the search for solutions inspired by fundamental principles of international law and criteria of justice and authentic fairness0”, we read in the message released by the Quirinale.

“Faced with the main challenges of our time – not only wars, but also growing economic and social disparities, environmental risks and the ethical repercussions of the use of artificial intelligence – believers and non-believers are called to confront each other to find answers consistent with the protection of human dignity and with the promotion, in every area and circumstance, of the common good”, continued Mattarella who recalled: “A few weeks ago we remembered the 95th anniversary of the Lateran Pacts and the 40th of the Republican Concordat. certainty that the achievement of these historic goals has further consolidated the fruitful collaboration between the Holy See and Italy – the head of state continues – I would like to express my profound gratitude to you for your concern towards the Italian people, also demonstrated by the apostolic visits in Venice, Verona and Trieste which you are regarding to complete”.

In the last part of the communication Mattarella offers Jorge Mario Bergoglio the best wishes of the whole country: “Your Holiness, on this day so important for your person and for the whole Catholic Church, on behalf of the Italian Republic I ask you to welcome the most fervent and warm wishes. I sincerely join them, extending them also to the upcoming Easter holidays, with the hope that the latter can open up new horizons of hope”, concludes the head of state.