.png)
Actor Robert de Niro spent forty-eight hours in Rome, and he visited the Vatican and met Pope Leo XIV for a brief meeting, where the pontiff gifted him a Rosary.
He received the Lupa Capitolina honor from the Mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri at the Campidoglio.
The Pope spoke first — “Good morning! It’s a pleasure to meet you!” “For me as well,” replied Robert De Niro. The actor was received by Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. The brief audience took place this morning in the Sala del Tronetto of the Apostolic Palace, amidst the Pontiff’s busy schedule.
The famous two-time Oscar-winning 82-year-old actor is American but of Italian (Molisan) descent. He had wanted to conclude his 48-hour visit to Rome with a handshake from the Pope, his fellow countryman. And so it happened: in the Sala del Tronetto, a light exchange in English, a photo with the five people accompanying him, and finally, a Rosary presented by the Holy Father to each one of them.
A medal in Rome
“Rome is more than a city; it’s a living work of art,” said the star to the mayor, who presented him with the Lupa Capitolina, the city’s highest honor. The protagonist of legendary films — including The Godfather, for which he even learned the Sicilian accent — accepted the award with emotion: “To be recognized here, in a place that has given so much to the world of culture, cinema, and beauty, is truly moving…”
The actor added: “My family has roots in Italy, so this recognition holds a very special meaning for me.”
Source: Vatican News
Comments