Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is expected to meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Wednesday (Jun. 21) to discuss issues such as the war in Ukraine, climate change, and the fight against hunger. Lula is also expected to invite the pontiff to participate in the Círio de Nazaré, in Belém, Pará state, one of the largest Catholic gatherings in the world.
Also on Wednesday, Lula should hold bilateral meetings with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri, and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The first woman to hold the post, Meloni is the leader of the first far-right government the European country has seen in decades.
The president is also going to Paris, where he will attend the Summit for the New Global Financing Pact on Thursday (22). Lula’s speech, as well as those of other foreign leaders, will be delivered at the end of the gathering, on Friday morning (23).
Also in the French capital, Lula should give the closing speech for Power Our Planet, at the invitation of British band Coldplay. The event will be held at the Champ de Mars, in front of the Eiffel Tower, on Thursday (22). Also expected to attend are leaders from East Timor, Barbados, Ghana, and Kenya, as well as Paris Mayor Ane Hidalgo.
Lula landed in Rome on Tuesday (20). The first engagement in the city was with Italian sociologist Domenico De Masi. Author of Ozio Creativo (“Creative Idleness”), De Masi is known for his concept of idleness as a stimulus to creativity.
After the summit, Lula will have lunch with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysée Palace, the seat of the host government.
