Standing in front of the new Pope, I was struck by how quickly he created a warm, almost intimate atmosphere. Speaking about peace — the defining priority of his pontificate — he quoted Mother Cabrini: “Begin the mission and the means will come”. For him, it is a call to act without waiting for perfect conditions, a reminder that change begins with the first step.
We spoke of Cabrini, born in Lombardy, the first U.S. citizen declared a saint. Pope Leo XIII sent her to America to serve the thousands of Italians seeking a better life. Her schools, hospitals, and orphanages remain part of her legacy more than a century later. We also spoke of the recent film that has moved millions of immigrants in the U.S. and around the world, and of the enduring inspiration her life offers to anyone who has ever left home in search of hope.
He told me of his Italian-American roots — growing up in Chicago with the stories of his Sicilian grandparents who arrived in the early 1900s, intertwined with the Creole heritage of New Orleans. “I’ve seen what it means to seek a future far from home, and how much it matters to be welcomed”, he said.
I shared the story of Il Newyorkese, our project to give voice to the Italian community in the U.S. — a community that is far more than people connected by shared origins. It is living proof of sacrifice, resilience, and the ability to reinvent oneself. It has preserved its roots while embracing integration, contributing decisively to America’s cultural, economic, and social growth.
He listened with interest as I explained that this community mirrors the story of American immigration itself. I gave him a basketball jersey, a symbol of the events we organize to unite sports and community, and described how these gatherings create real connections — moments to meet, share, and build bonds that last.
For the Pope, the Italy America Reputation Lab — the foundation behind many of our cultural and institutional initiatives — could serve as a reference point for his pontificate in the United States. Knowing this gives meaning to the sacrifices of the past two years, reinforcing the path we are on. In that moment, he asked me to be “a living bridge between two worlds, bearing witness to the values of family, work, and faith”.
