Pope Francis called Giorgio Napolitano, the newly re-elected president of Italy. “The Pope expressed his gratitude and his admiration for the Italian president.”
“Mr. President, I called to thank you for your example,” Pope Francis told the president. “You have been an example for me. With your conduct, you have brought to life the fundamental principle of coexistence: that unity is greater than conflict. I am touched by your decision.”
Napolitano, 87, became the first Italian president ever to be re-elected to a second term. The general election to replace him was inconclusive, so he was asked by Italy’s squabbling politicians from all major parties to stay on. The president agreed to stay in the role in an effort to solve a political impasse.
Napolitano, as president of Italy, has broad political powers as well as ceremonial functions. He demonstrated those powers when he appointed Jesuit-trained Mario Monti to be a technocratic prime Minister after the fall the Silvio Berlusconi’s government. No wonder the new Jesuit pope called him to thank him for being a good example.
The warm relations between Napolitano and the pope will no doubt encourage other government leaders to follow his lead.
And all the world wondered… Revelation 13:3.