Pope thanks Italian President for his support of the Church

Vatican News Pope Leo XIV has expressed his gratitude for the “constant attention” devoted to the “ecclesial and social life” of Italy and entrusted President Sergio Mattarella to the protection of the country's patron saints, Francis of Assisi and Catherine of Siena. The Pope did so in a telegram sent on Thursday, 23 July, to the President of the Italian Republic on the occasion of his 85th birthday. The message also conveys the Pope's good wishes, together with his Apostolic Blessing for President Mattarella's family, his collaborators, and for his “beloved Italy.” Pope Leo XIV's visit to the Quirinale [ Read Also ] Pope Leo visited the Quirinale Palace – the Italian President’s official residence - on 14 October 2025, where he delivered an address focused on multilateralism and support for families in Europe, where, he noted, the birth rate is in “marked decline.” He also reflected on the wars currently afflicting the world, urging people to look into the faces of the many who have been “overwhelmed by the irrational brutality of those who mercilessly plan death and destruction” in the numerous conflicts “devastating our planet,” and to listen to their cry. For his part, President Mattarella highlighted Leo XIV's commitment to the “centrality of the human person” and to dialogue. The President has reiterated and praised this commitment on several occasions in messages sent to the Pope, including one marking the first anniversary of the beginning of his Petrine ministry and another for Easter.