Pope Francis visits Italian President Giorgio Napolitano at Quirinale Palace
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Thursday paid his first official visit to Italy’s
head of state, Giorgio Napolitano, at Rome’s Quirinale Palace where he also met leading
members of the Italian government. In his address to President Napolitano, the Pope
touched on the social and economic problems afflicting Italy such as unemployment
and urged the state institutions to do their utmost to support the family. He also
said he would like to knock at the door of every home in Italy to offer the healing
words of the gospel.
Susy Hodges reports:
Pope Francis
visited President Napolitano at Rome’s Quirinale, a Renaissance Palace, which up
until 1870 had been a residency of the papacy for many centuries. His visit to the
Italian head of State came 5 months after President Napolitano was received in audience
by him at the Vatican.
In his address to Napolitano, Pope Francis said his
visit confirmed the excellent relations that exist between Italy and the Holy See
and recalled his predecessor’s visit to the Quirinale Palace in 2008. "Ideally,"
said the Pope, "I would wish to knock at the door of every inhabitant of Italy and
offer to everybody the healing and ever new words of the Gospel."
Pope Francis
said in their separate roles both Church and State share many common concerns such
as the economic crisis and the resulting lack of jobs which he described as "one of
its most painful consequences." He urged everyone to redouble their efforts to
alleviate the consequences of this.
"The Church’s main task," the Pope
continued, "is to bear witness to God’s mercy and to encourage a generous response
of solidarity." In this way, we can help build a more just and humane society and
promote a sustainable and healthy development.
Recalling his pastoral visits
to the islands of Lampedusa and Sardinia and to the city of Assisi, the Pope said
that in all these places he witnessed and touched with his hands "the wounds" that
afflict so many suffering people.
Turning to the family, the Pope urged everyone
to support the family unit, saying it needs to be "appreciated, valued and protected"
so it can carry out its vital mission in society. He ended by expressing his hope
that "Italy can recover its creativity and harmony" so it can promote the well-being
and dignity of every human person.
In his own address, President Napolitano
praised Pope Francis for his desire to carry out "a dialogue with everyone, even opponents
and those who are most distant," saying the spirit of the Second Vatican Council vibrates
in his words. Napolitano also spoke of the need to counter a spreading egoism and
social insensitivity and said politics need to be freed from the plague of corruption
and the promotion of personal interests.