Pope felicitates Italian president on second term

22 April, 2013 - Pope Francis has felicitated Italian president Giorgio Napolitano on his re-election on Saturday for a second term in office. The 87-year-old Napolitano, the first Italian president ever to be re-elected, yielded to the pleas of the bickering parties after parliament had failed in repeated votes to elect a successor. In a telegram to Napolitano the Pope hailed the Italian president’s wisdom and prayed that the president receive “constant divine assistance” on the high service to the country. Saying he blessed both Napolitano and the Italian nation, he encouraged the country to “build a future of harmony, solidarity and hope.” He wished that Napolitano be able to continue his illumined and wise action sustained by the responsible cooperation of all.