Mattarella's message to Pope Leo XIV for his trip to France
The President of the Republic sent a message to the Pontiff on the occasion of his apostolic mission to France and to UNESCO
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President Sergio Mattarella sent a message to Pope Leo XIV for the start of his apostolic journey to France and to UNESCO, recalling the importance of European values, unity and multilateral order.
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Why It Matters
Pope Leo XIV makes his fifth apostolic journey by going to France, Paris, Lourdes and Metz.
«The nation we are preparing to visit, in its thousand-year history, has made an essential contribution to Europe and the world for the affirmation of individual rights and freedoms, together with those universal ideals that are the foundation of our democracies. The very motto of His journey, "So that the world may have life", encourages unity and cohesion, arouses a positive commitment aimed at seeking the common good and serving the human person".
The President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, wrote this to His Holiness Pope Leo
The head of state recalls the «shining example, inspired by Christian values» of the figure of Robert Schuman, «which Your Holiness will remember in Metz. His generation was able to overcome the tragedies of war and partisan interests, starting the great project of a united, reconciled and just Europe. Even today, the integration process fuels and supports the rules-based multilateral order, an indispensable barrier to the indiscriminate predominance of force".
«While the need for a fair sharing of resources on the planet becomes more pressing every day - adds Mattarella - for their ethical use, safeguarding the balance between people and generations».
«Of course your message in favor of the dignity of every human being and collaboration between peoples - Mattarella continues in his message to the Pope - will be welcomed as a sign of hope in a future of greater harmony. I renew, Your Holiness, the expressions of my profound consideration».
The Ita Airways Airbus 321neo with the Pope on board took off from Leonardo da Vinci airport in Fiumicino. The arrival in Paris Orly is scheduled for 10 am. This is the fifth apostolic journey of Leo XIV, his third to Europe. Today and tomorrow he will be in Paris where he will celebrate the Holy Mass in Place de la Concorde and visit the United Nations organization for education, science and culture at the UNESCO headquarters. Then he will move to Lourdes and finally to Metz. The return to Rome is scheduled for Monday 28 September.
Open Questions
- What will be the central themes addressed in the institutional meetings in France?
