Vatican
City, 8 June 2013
(VIS) – The official state visit of the President of Italy, Giorgio
Napolitano, to Pope Francis “once again confirms—even after
troubled and painful events—the normalcy and excellence of
relations between Italy and the Holy See”. The dialogue between the
two “has the good of the Italian people as its principle goal and
has its historically unique role in Europe and the world as its ideal
backdrop”.
Those
were the words of the Bishop of Rome this morning on receiving for
the first time in his pontificate the representative of Italy's
highest institution. He thanked the president, as well as all the
entire Italian population, for the warm welcome that they have given
him, saying that they have made him feel “at home again”. At the
same time the pontiff expressed the wish that Italy might always be
“a welcoming home for all”.
President
Napolitano, the first head of state to officially visit Pope Francis,
arrived in the Vatican shortly before 11:00am, accompanied by the
Italian minister of Foreign Affairs, Emma Bonino, and Italy's
ambassador to the Holy See, Francesco Maria Greco. Upon arriving he
was greeted by the Prefect of the Papal Household, Archbishop
Georg Ganswein, and an honour guard of the Swiss Guard in the San
Damaso Courtyard. After a private conversation with the Pope in the
Sala del Tronetto (“little throne room”) of the Vatican Apostolic
Palace, they moved to the Library where they both delivered speeches.
The
Pope noted that, after the conciliation and the inclusion of the
Lateran Pacts in the Italian Constitution and further, in a new light
after the Second Vatican Council and the revision of the Treaty,
relations between Italy and the Holy See have developed well. “In
Italy,” he added, “the collaboration between State and Church,
always focused on the interest of the people and of society, is
carried out in the daily relationship between civil agencies and
those of the Catholic community, represented by the Bishops and their
offices, and in a very particular way, by the Bishop of Rome. Thus,
even this first visit of the President to the Pope can be effectively
expressed with the image of the two hills, the Quirinal and the
Vatican, that look upon one another with esteem and fondness.”
The
Pope then observed that 2013 marks the 1700th
anniversary of the Edict of Milan, a symbol for many of the first
affirmation of the principle of religious freedom, noting that, a
century ago, the commemoration of the Edict of Milan represented “a
stage in the historical process that favoured the awareness and the
contribution of Catholics in the construction of Italian society. …
In today's world, religious freedom is more often asserted than
accomplished. … The serious outrages inflicted on this primary
right are a source of serious concern.”
“Against
every attack, the unanimous reaction of the world's countries must be
seen reaffirming the inviolable dignity of the human person. It is
the duty of all to defend religious freedom and to promote it for
all. In sharing the protection of this moral good is also found a
guarantee of the growth and development of the entire community.”
Continuing, he mentioned the “profound and persistent” world
crisis, which also affects Italy, “emphasizing the economic and
social problems, which weigh especially upon the weakest part of
society”. He noted some particularly troubling phenomena such as
“the weakening of family and social ties, the decreasing
population, the prevalence of mentalities favouring profit over work,
and the insufficient attention paid to younger generations and their
formation”.
“In
this difficult context, which certainly is not easy, it is essential
to guarantee and to develop the overall system of the democratic
institutions to which Italian Catholics have decisively, loyally, and
creatively contributed in recent decades. In a time of crisis such as
this one it is, therefore, urgent that a new consideration of
political commitment, above all among young persons, might arise and
that believers and non-believers together might collaborate in
promoting a society in which injustice can be overcome and every
person can be welcomed and can contribute to the common good. … The
distance between the letter and the spirit of laws and democratic
institutions is always to be recognized and we need the commitment of
all involved to bridge it every time again. We Catholics also have
the duty to always strive more along the serious journey of spiritual
conversion so that we might every day draw closer to the Gospel,
which compels us to concretely and effectively serve persons and
society.”
The
Pope ended his discourse repeating that “what faith assures us of
is true even in the civil sphere: we must never lose hope. How many
examples of this have our parents and grandparents given us, facing
the hardships of their times with great courage and spirit of
sacrifice. On various occasions, Benedict XVI repeated that the
current crisis should be an opportunity for the fraternal renewal of
human relationships. Even the Italian people, drawing confidently and
creatively from their rich Christian tradition and from the examples
of their patron saints, Francis of Assisi and Catherine of Siena, …
can and must overcome every division and grow in justice and peace,
continuing thus to play their unique role in the European context and
in the family of nations, and working to create a culture of
encounter.”
After
the addresses, the head of the Italian State met with Cardinal
Tarcisio Bertone, S.D.B., secretary of State, and with the diplomatic
corps accredited to the Holy See. Before leaving, he went to the
Vatican Basilica where he visited the Chapel of the Pieta.
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