Meloni closes the G7 with the Pope, the enthusiasm of the leaders: «Historic day»
It is the day of the bilateral meeting with US President Joe Biden, yet the world’s spotlight on Borgo Egnazia is all focused on him: Pope Francis marks the debut of a pontiff at the G7. Apart from the agreement on the solidarity fund of 50 billion dollars guaranteed by the profits from Russian assets, it is Bergoglio’s presence that makes the difference in this Italian-led G7. Giorgia Meloni is aware of this, achieving an unprecedented result. A result which, in itself, is capable of disposing of the ‘waste’ of the dispute with President Emmanuel Macron, a dispute involving fiery declarations which ended up ‘cannibalising’ the attention of the media and public opinion in the first work day. Today we turn the page with the arrival of the pontiff, headed to the small Apulian village aboard a helicopter. The Prime Minister reaches the steps of the aircraft against the wind, “still alive”, he jokes, “there are two of us”, Meloni replies promptly after having investigated the state of health of the Holy Father. Together they get into the small golf car that will take them to the other leaders, Bergoglio struggles, also because of his bad knee, but with Meloni they make her laugh: she jokes with amusement, “a good laugh”, observes Francesco, “ok but me and she always..», replies the Prime Minister, who in these 18 months has managed to build a solid relationship with the pontiff, met several times even away from the spotlight. When they enter the room where the panel on Artificial Intelligence takes place, the enthusiasm of the leaders – not only the 7, but also the so-called ‘outreach’ to whom Meloni has decided to open the summit – is uncontainable: a long applause accompanies the pontiff, who reaches his post in a wheelchair, Meloni behind him. All the leaders approach to greet him, with a confidence that distinguishes a pontificate judged by all to be outside the box: Biden leans over him and whispers something in his ear, the Argentine Javier Milei, Bergoglio’s compatriot, embraces him with emotion, even the Brazilian Luis Inácio Lula de Silva and the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hugged him emotionally. «It is the first time that a pontiff participates in a G7 meeting – the prime minister opens the session – so inevitably it is a truly historic moment. I will never thank you enough for being here with us”, she says, leaving the floor to Francesco.
