ROME (AP) 鈥� Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, who came to power on a campaign motto of 鈥淕od, Family, Fatherland鈥� made her first official visit to see Pope Francis on Tuesday, fulfilling what she said was a hoped-for opportunity to better understand the Argentine pontiff.
Meloni spent 35 minutes with Francis alone, before she met with the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the foreign minister. The Holy See said the talks with Parolin focused on the fight against poverty, family issues and Italy鈥檚 demographic problems 鈥� a big concern for both Meloni and Francis who have lamented Italy鈥檚 low birth rate. The war in Ukraine and migration were also discussed, according to a press statement.
Meloni, whose far-right-led coalition won September national elections, has spoken at length about her Catholic faith and has been a high-profile participant in Italy鈥檚 conservative Family Day rallies aimed at promoting 鈥渢raditional鈥� family values. During the 2016 edition she announced she was pregnant with her first child, Ginevra, who accompanied her to the audience with Francis Tuesday, along with her partner.
Meloni has assured Italians she won鈥檛 roll back abortion rights but she has vowed to pass initiatives to provide alternatives and to better support families to help reverse what Francis has called Italy's 鈥渄emographic winter.鈥�
She has made clear her affection for and admiration of Pope Benedict XVI, calling him a 鈥済iant that history will never forget.鈥� She attended his funeral and joined the public viewing of his body in St. Peter鈥檚 Basilica following his Dec. 31 death, and ordered all public buildings in Italy to lower their flags at half-staff in his honor 鈥� an action not even taken by the Vatican.
In her autobiography 鈥淚 am Giorgia,鈥� Meloni wrote that she was somewhat perplexed by Francis, saying she sometimes felt like she was a 鈥渓ost sheep.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檝e never allowed myself to criticize a pope, but I admit I haven鈥檛 always understood Pope Francis,鈥� she wrote. 鈥淚 hope one day to have the privilege of speaking with him, because I鈥檓 certain that his big yes and direct words will give sense to what I don鈥檛 understand.鈥�
Francis, for his part, has wished Meloni well and urged the center-left opposition to work constructively and responsibly with her government 鈥� the first far-right-led coalition in Italy since the end of World War II and its first ever headed by a woman.
During Tuesday鈥檚 audience, Meloni gave Francis an angel figurine from a collection of hundreds that she has in her home. She also gave him two books: one for children about Mass that was written in 1955 by Maria Montessori, Itay鈥檚 famed educator, and a 1920 edition of a book containing the writings of the pope鈥檚 namesake, St. Francis of Assisi.
Francis, for his part, gave the premier copies of his main writings, as well as a bronze sculpture of a child helping another get up, bearing the words 鈥淟ove, Help.鈥�
