President Cyril Ramaphosa touched down in Rome today for a whirlwind of solemn ceremony and high‑level diplomacy. After arriving at the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, he was escorted to the tomb of the late Pope Francis, where he laid a bouquet of white lilies and rosemary as a sign of solidarity with the global Catholic community.
The gesture was followed by a historic bilateral meeting – Ramaphosa’s first official audience with the newly‑elected Pope Leo XIV. The two leaders met at the Apostolic Palace, where they discussed climate justice, humanitarian aid, peace‑building and the strengthening of South Africa‑Holy See ties. Ramaphosa presented the pontiff with two books – one on Nelson Mandela and another on Archbishop Desmond Tutu – while Pope Leo reciprocated with a sculpture symbolising “intergenerational dialogue” and a photo album of the Apostolic Palace.
Both sides highlighted the shared values of Ubuntu and compassion, emphasizing that the meeting “represents South Africa’s first high‑level engagement with the newly‑appointed pontiff” and opens a new chapter of collaboration on humanitarian, climate and peace initiatives.
The visit comes just days after the United States announced that no American officials would attend the upcoming G20 summit in Johannesburg, underscoring the contrast between diplomatic dialogue and boycott tactics.
Comments
Post a Comment