Italian president says that Pope Francis’s voice is still more necessary than ever

The President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, sent a message to Pope Francis, hospitalized with bilateral pneumonia since February 14, in which he claimed his global leadership by pointing out that his voice “remains more necessary than ever.”

“While at the international level the reasons for the law and a correct articulation of coexistence between the states seem and remains more necessary than ever,” he says in a letter written on the occasion of the twelfth anniversary of the beginning of Pope Francis’s pontificate held on March 13, but published this Thursday.

The Italian head of state highlights his commitment to the promotion of social justice, peace and solidarity among peoples.

“Together with me, the Italian people are grateful for these twelve years in which they have offered the most authentic testimony of evangelical values, in constant service not only to the Catholic Church, but to all humanity,” writes Mattarella.

The Head of State of Italy refers to the encyclical of the Holy Father Loves us,, in which he proposes to the Sacred Heart of Jesus as an antidote before the “perverse gear” of a world in war and consumerist.

Mattarella also highlights how the Pontiff has promoted, before political and economic leaders, in high -level meetings and international forums, the urgency of putting human dignity in the center of decisions.

“At the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (Cop 29), at the G7 summit chaired by Italy, in the G20, its holiness made a vibrant call to the rediscovery of hope, to neglect the logic of strength and prevarication, and the renewal instances that reveals an ethical use of new technologies,” Mattarella recalls.

Closeness of the Pontiff with Italy

In his letter, Mattarella also highlights the value of the recent pastoral gestures of Pope Francis, such as the opening of the Holy Door in the prison of Rebibbia; An act with which the Pontiff wanted to extend the grace of the jubilee of hope to prisoners.

In addition, he mentions the decision to canonize the Italians Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati, two figures that have aroused a deep devotion, especially among young people.

The Italian head of state indicates that these gestures “have been received with alive gratitude by the Italian people, who feel in a special way the closeness of the Bishop of Rome and his constant concern for Italy.”

The message concludes with a sample of closeness and affection:. “With this spirit, Holy Father, I renew my sincere good wishes of all well -being in the continuation of his pontificate, to which I add the most sincere – of a prompt recovery,” concludes Mattarella.