A Historic Day for the Pontiff and for the G7
For the first time in history, a Pope will participate in the G7 summit. Pope Francis is preparing to experience a day of intense diplomatic and spiritual activity in Puglia, precisely in Borgo Egnazia, where the summit of the leaders of the seven main world economies is underway. The Holy Father’s programme, full of bilateral meetings with world leaders, represents a moment of particular importance for the Church and the international community.
The Pope’s Arrival: the meeting with Giorgia Meloni
Pope Francis’ day will begin with departure from the Vatican heliport at 11.00. After a flight of an hour and a half, the Pontiff will land in the Borgo Egnazia sports field at 12.30, where he will be welcomed by the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Meloni underlined the importance of this historical moment, recalling the crucial role of the Church in promoting peace and international dialogue.
High profile bilateral talks
After the welcome, the Pope will be transferred by golf cart to the reserved residence where bilateral talks will begin. The series of meetings will see Pope Francis engaged with some of the main world leaders:
- Kristalina GeorgievaDirector General of the International Monetary Fund.
- Volodymyr ZelenskyyPresident of Ukraine.
- Emmanuel MacronPresident of France.
- Justin TrudeauPrime Minister of Canada.
These meetings are awaited with great interest, especially the one with Zelenskyy, given the context of the war in Ukraine, where the Pope has repeatedly called for peace and an end to hostilities.
The Joint Session and the Pope’s speech
At 2.05 pm, in the court of Borgo Egnazia, Premier Meloni will officially welcome the Pope with an official photo, thus marking the beginning of her participation in the summit. At 2.15 pm, in the Arena Hall, Pope Francis will participate in the joint session of the G7, where he will give a speech which is expected to focus on the themes of social justice, peace and environmental sustainability. The Pontiff’s speech will be followed by interventions from the other leaders present.
Continuation of bilateral meetings
After the official photo of all participants at 5.30pm, Pope Francis will continue with other bilateral meetings. Among the leaders with whom he will confront the following stand out:
- William Samoei RutoPresident of Kenya.
- Narendra ModiPrime Minister of India.
- Joseph BidenPresident of the United States of America.
- Luiz Inácio Lula da SilvaPresident of Brazil.
- Recep Tayyip ErdoğanPresident of the Republic of Türkiye.
- Abdelmadjid TebbounePresident of the Republic of Algeria.
The meeting with Joe Biden will be particularly significant, given that both share a common vision on many global issues, including climate change and the fight against poverty.
The conclusion of the day
At 7.45pm, Pope Francis will leave Borgo Egnazia aboard the papal helicopter to return to the Vatican. Arrival is scheduled for 9.15pm. This historic day will mark a further step in Pope Francis’ mission to promote dialogue and cooperation between peoples, underlining the role of the Church as an intermediary of peace and justice in the world.
Final thoughts
Pope Francis’ participation in the G7 represents an unprecedented event and offers an extraordinary opportunity to strengthen interreligious dialogue and international cooperation. His presence and his bilateral meetings will not only help to underline the importance of peace and justice, but also to reaffirm the role of the Church as a promoter of a more equitable and supportive world.
With his characteristic humility and wisdom, Pope Francis continues to be a key figure on the global scene, capable of positively influencing international dynamics and inspiring millions of people around the world.
