This morning, Pope Leo XIV greeted Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in audience. Following her meeting with the Pontiff, the Prime Minister's visit to the Vatican proceeded with a meeting at the Secretariat of State, where she was greeted by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, and Monsignor Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States. During the conversation, which lasted more than half an hour, the Holy See and Italy's solid relationship was reaffirmed. The emphasis was also on the shared commitment to peace, with specific reference to the war in Ukraine, the Middle East crisis, and the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. The discussions also covered a wide range of topics of mutual interest, including bilateral relations as well as Church and Italian society. According to a statement released by the Vatican, the meeting took place in a cordial and constructive atmosphere.