ROMA (ITALPRESS) – “The invocation of peace, the first that believers and non-believers heard to pronounce you as a Pontiff, continues to resonate in the whole world, urging the minds and hearts of all, even those who seem offended by selfishness and vanity. The appeals of Your Holiness so that weapons may be silenced and everywhere restored the reasons for justice and dialogue arouse hope and re-examine those who, without distinctions of religious confession or culture, experience with disturbance the superficiality with which war is now threatened and sometimes implemented, with tragic consequences and unacceptable human costs.” This is what we read in a message that the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella sent to Pope Leo XIV on the first anniversary of the solemn beginning of the pontificate.
“In the face of the spread of prevarications and violence, Ella, Santità – continues the Head of State – invites us to consider peace “an arduous but possible good”, inspiring ideas of reflection and concrete daily conduct. I find exemplary testimonies in your recent apostolic journey to Africa, a significant witness of pastoral proximity, which has delivered to young people and the ruling classes of those lands wonderful clear messages on the importance of a cooperative and development-oriented coexistence, the need to invest in education and training, the commitment of each person to the benefit of the community and in respect of others. Everywhere in the world, these are the ferments of “a strategic choice for peace” and for the protection, without compromise, of the dignity of the person. Listening to such His incessant calls leads to still having confidence that the current generations can face the fearsome challenges of contemporaryity according to a principle of fraternal solidarity, averting a future of degrading spiritual and material impoverishment. Finally, I wish to express to you, Your Holiness, my most heartfelt thanks for the pressing testimonies of closeness to the Italian people, who waits with joy and unanimous affection to welcome you on the occasion of the next pastoral visits in our country. In the happy memory of the occasions of meeting these months and in the expectation of the others I wish to follow soon, I renew my best wishes for the welfare of your person and for your service to the Church and to humanity”.
– photos of repertoire IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
