Mustn’t Give in to Oligarch Domination, Says Mattarella

Rome: President Sergio Mattarella emphasized the necessity of resisting “a society dominated by oligarchs” during a meeting with Pope Leo XIV at the Quirinal Palace in Rome. The Italian president’s remarks came as he highlighted the strong ties between Rome and the Vatican, noting the visit aimed “to seal the inseparable bond between the Holy See and Italy.”

According to Ansa News Agency, President Mattarella reiterated his stance against Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, which he condemned for its relentless impact. He acknowledged the recent ceasefire in Gaza and the release of the last remaining living Israeli hostages held by Hamas as significant developments.

“After almost four years, large-scale Russian aggression in Ukraine continues to claim countless civilian victims, to sow death and destruction, to cast an ominous shadow of insecurity over the entire European continent,” Mattarella stated. Shifting focus to the Middle East, he expressed cautious optimism: “today there is ‘a spark of hope that must be supported with conviction.”

He recognized the importance of the hostages’ release and the ceasefire’s role in providing relief to Gaza’s beleaguered civilian population. Mattarella further praised the European Union as a crucial “antidote” to war and urged politicians to prioritize “dialogue and mutual understanding” over exploiting divisions for political gain.