Pope Francis to visit Rome’s Campidoglio in June

Deborah Castellano Lubov

Pope Francis will visit the capital of Rome, often simply called the Capitol, on June 10.

The news was confirmed Friday by the Holy See Press Office, following an announcement made earlier in the day by the local police chaplain of the City of Rome, Father Massimo Cocci.

During the visit, Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri will welcome Pope Francis at 9 a.m.

Pope Francis received the Roman mayor at the Vatican on January 4, as is the tradition for the bishop of Rome to receive the mayor of the Eternal City at the start of the year.

After the meeting, Mr. Gualtieri described the meeting as “profoundly inspiring” and called the Bishop of Rome a model of “solidarity, fraternity and peace.”

A return to the Capitol after the prayer for peace

Pope Francis visited the Capitol in October 2020 to participate in the annual prayer meeting for peace of the Community of Sant'Egidio.

After the interventions of the founder of Sant'Egidio, Professor Andrea Riccardi, of the Italian President Sergio Mattarella and of the religious leaders present, the The Holy Father gave his speech, above all, we observed a minute of silence in memory of the victims of the pandemic, wars, terrorism and violence, around the world.

Subsequently, an appeal for peace was read and, in accordance with the tradition of the annual event, some children, who received the text of the appeal from religious leaders, transmitted it to ambassadors and political leaders present.