Mattarella Sends Message to Pope Francis for 12th Anniversary

Rome: President Sergio Mattarella on Wednesday sent a heartfelt message to Pope Francis, marking the 12th anniversary of his inauguration as the leader of the Catholic Church. The pope is currently hospitalized with bilateral pneumonia, a condition he has been battling since February 14.

According to Ansa News Agency, President Mattarella expressed his gratitude, stating, “Together with me, the Italian people are grateful to you for these 12 years in which you have offered the most authentic testimony of evangelical values, in constant service not only to the Catholic Church, but to all of humanity.” He highlighted the pope’s influential role in various international forums, including the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change, the G7 Summit chaired by Italy, and the G20.

In his message, Mattarella praised Pope Francis for his persistent efforts to instill hope and promote ethical practices. He noted the pope’s call for “the rediscovery of hope, to the setting aside of the logic of force and abuse, to the call for renewal by an ethical use of new technologies.”

The president also emphasized the importance of the pope’s voice in the current global landscape, where the principles of law and coexistence among states appear to be under threat. “While at the international level the reasons of law and of a correct articulation of coexistence between States seem to be weakening, your voice is, and remains, more necessary than ever,” Mattarella added.

In closing, President Mattarella conveyed his sincere wishes for Pope Francis’s continued well-being and a swift recovery, expressing his hope for the pontificate’s ongoing success and impact.