By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
ROME
The Holy Father, His Holiness Pope Francis 1 on Tuesday 5th November, 2024, met with the former Italian foreign affairs minister, Emma Bonino in what was quoted by different media outlets as a “surprise” visit.
The Pope was returning from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome where he met with the university administration earlier this day.
The Holy Father met Bonino, 76, renown Pro-Abortion Activist at her home in Central Rome where she’s receiving outpatient services after she was discharged from a hospital over respiratory difficulties and heart issues. The Vatican press office confirmed the visit took place but did not offer additional information.
Pope Francis has repeatedly condemned abortion in the strongest terms. Upon leaving her home, people outisde asked the Pope about his visit and how Bonino was doing as she had been dealing with cancer in the past. The Pope respondend, “very well….she is always cordial.”
This is not the first time, the Pope and Bonino are meeting. Pope Francis and Emma Bonino have met several times in the past, starting back in November 2015 when she participated in the Wednesday General Audience in the Paul VI Hall. Together with Rome’s deputy prosecutor, Michele Prestipino, and Maria Rita Parsi, Bonino presented new initiatives in favour of refugee children by the Italian foundation ‘La fabbrica della pace.’
On 8 November 2016, Pope Francis met with her privately at the Apostolic Palace. The Holy See Press Office reported at the time that “the conversation focused above all on the issues of migratory flows, the reception of migrants and their integration in society.
