Pope Francis visits Italian President at Quirinale Palace

Rome, 14 Nov 2013: Pope Francis on Thursday paid his first official visit to Italy’s President, Giorgio Napolitano, at Quirinale Palace. He also met the leading members of the Italian government on the occasion. While addressing the President, Pope Francis appreciated the welcome he received at the Presidential palace and the excellent relations that exists between Italy and the Holy See.

He also highlighted the present economic crisis and its most painful effects of the shortage of labor. He exhorted all to step up efforts to seize and fortify any sign of recovery.

Referring to the role of the Church, Pope Francis said that the primary task of the Church is to bear witness to God's mercy and to encourage generous response of solidarity to open to a future of hope, because hope grows where exists a commitment to building a more humane and just social and civil order and potential for sustainable development.

Recalling his pastoral visit to Italian island of Lampedusa, the Pope said that he witnessed the commendable expression of solidarity of so many people. He also recalled his visit to Cagliari, to pray before Our Lady of Bonaria, and his visit to Assisi to venerate the saint who is the patron saint of Italy and whose name he has adopted.

Pope Francis then highlighted the importance of the family, saying it is the center of hopes. With renewed conviction, said the Pope, the Church continues to deepen the commitment of all individuals and institutions to support the family in which we learn the values ​​and examples that make us credible. The family needs stability and recognition of mutual ties, to achieve its full irreplaceable task and fulfill its mission, added the Pope.

Pope Francis hoped that Italy, from its rich heritage of spiritual and civic values​​, knows how to find again the creativity and harmony that are necessary for its harmonious development, to promote the common good and the dignity of every person, and to offer the international community its contribution to peace and justice.
Pope Francis then met the staff of Qurinale with their families and exhorted them to always live in harmony with those who are close to them, their families. Through your work, the Pope told them, you come in contact with the various ordinary and extraordinary events that mark the path of a nation. I hope you will always have a spirit of acceptance and understanding towards all, especially towards the weak. He assured his prayers and asked them to pray for him.

Earlier, while welcoming Pope Francis, President Giorgio Napolitano, applauded the Pope’s amazing generosity and frankness, and said that his vision, simple and strong words, his conception of the Church and faith, have attracted both believers and non-believers alike.
We were struck by the absence of dogmatism, he said, we felt, in his words, vibrant spirit of the Second Vatican Council, such as "re-reading of the Gospel in the light of contemporary culture." And so we see new prospects for "dialogue with everyone, even the distant ones and opponents. The President said that Pope Francis ‘is giving us the example’.