An emotional embrace between Pope Francis and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva characterized the private audience between the two, held on Wednesday afternoon in the small room of the Paul VI Hall.
Lula was accompanied, among others, by his wife Rosangela "Janja" da Silva.
During the meeting, Lula extended the official invitation to the Pontiff to participate in the "Círio de Nazaré" celebration in honor of Our Lady of Nazareth, which takes place in October in Belém-Pará, Amazonian state, one of the largest Marian celebrations in the world.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva greets Pope Francis with an emotional embrace. Photo: EFE
Among other things, the president's wife presented the Pope with the image of "Nossa Senhora de Nazaré."
The war in Ukraine, one of the topics
Lula arrived at the Vatican on Wednesday at mid-morning, Argentine time, to hold a private audience with Pope Francis and to discuss, among other issues, the fight against hunger and war in Ukraine.
The president arrived at the Vatican accompanied by the Brazilian first lady, in a delegation of fifteen official cars that crossed the Via della Conciliazione in Rome and St. Peter's Square and accessed the Papal State through the Bell Gate.
Lula and Francisco exchange gifts. Photo: AFP
Lula was received by the head of the Pontifical Household, Leonardo Sapienza.
Francisco, who in the past wrote to Lula when he was imprisoned, met Lula a few days after being discharged from his abdominal hernia operation.
The war in Ukraine
Lula Da Silva sought to discuss with the Argentine pontiff issues such as the fight against hunger and inform him of his proposals to end the war in Ukraine, an issue that greatly worries the pope.
After the meeting, Lula was also scheduled to meet with Venezuelan Cardinal Edgar Peña Parra, substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State of the Holy See, since Secretary Pietro Parolin is away from Rome on a trip.
Previously, Lula was received by his Italian counterpart, Sergio Mattarella, at the Roman Quirinal Palace, seat of the Head of State.
Lula was received by his Italian counterpart, Sergio Mattarella, at Rome's Quirinal Palace. Photo: EFE
On Wednesday afternoon, Lula's agenda included a meeting with the prime minister, the far-right Giorgia Meloni. And then with the mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri, an old friend who visited him in 2018 when the current Brazilian president was imprisoned due to corruption trials later annulled by the Justice.
The Brazilian president is scheduled to hold a press conference in Rome on Thursday morning before flying to Paris, where he will participate in the "Summit for a New Global Financial Pact," convened by his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron.
EFE and ANSA
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