Pope Francis meets with Italian Prime Minister
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Saturday morning met with the Prime Minister of Italy, Matteo Renzi.
A statement released by the Holy See Press Office called their discussions “serene and cordial”, and said attention focused on, among other issues, the current context of persistent difficulties of an economic and social nature, with negative consequences especially in relation to youth employment. In addition, the importance of education to promote the future of new generations was emphasized.
Various themes relating to international politics were then considered, and the Parties shared their serious concerns for the gradual worsening of conflicts in the Middle East.
With regard to the term of the Italian Presidency of the European Union, the Parties affirmed the importance of the themes mentioned by the Holy Father during his recent address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg. These were held to be fundamental to the harmonious development of European peoples.
Finally, the Parties renewed their commitment to continuing their joint cooperation to resolve various issues of a bilateral nature.