President Sergio Mattarella said at
the pope's death Monday that he felt a great void and that the
88-year-old Argentine pontiff had been a reference point for
him.
Ina statement, the Italian head of State said: "I learned with
great personal pain the news of the death of Pope Francis,
feeling the serious void that is created by the loss of the
point of reference that he has always represented for me.
"The death of Pope Francis arouses pain and emotion among
Italians and throughout the world. His teaching has recalled the
evangelical message, solidarity among men, the duty of closeness
to the weakest, international cooperation, peace in humanity.
Gratitude towards him must be translated with the responsibility
to work, as he has constantly done, for these objectives".
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
