Ignazio Cassis on working visit to Italy and the Vatican
Bern, 13.04.2023 - On 19 April Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis will travel to Rome for a three-day working visit and a series of talks with officials of the Holy See and the Italian Republic. The head of the FDFA will meet with the secretary of state of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the secretary for relations with states, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher. In addition to opening the new premises of the Swiss embassy to the Vatican, he will meet with Italy's foreign minister, Antonio Tajani and economy and finance minister, Giancarlo Giorgetti.
On Wednesday 19 April, the Swiss foreign minister will officially open the new premises of the Swiss embassy to the Holy See, which were presented to the public in May during a ceremony marking the start of the renovations. The new embassy is now fully operational. In keeping with the aims of the Federal Council, it will serve to maximise the potential for bilateral and international cooperation in key areas for Switzerland's foreign policy and to respond to an increase in diplomatic activities in recent years.
Mr Cassis will also attend a series of bilateral meetings. He will meet with the secretary of state of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the secretary for relations with states, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher. These meetings are expected to focus on bilateral relations between Switzerland and the Holy See, current international developments, and topics of shared interest including efforts to promote peace and human rights in the world. Also scheduled is a visit to the Community of Sant'Egidio, an international Christian organisation dedicated to helping the vulnerable and conflict mediation.
Since this will be his first visit to Italy since the formation of the new Italian government, Mr Cassis will also meet with the foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, with whom he spoke briefly at the UN General Assembly in New York in February. The two are expected discuss their countries' bilateral relations in addition to international topics such as the war in Ukraine, Switzerland's non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council and Swiss–EU relations. Mr Cassis's meeting with the Italian economy and finance minister, Giancarlo Giorgetti, will focus on pending matters in the financial relations between the two countries.
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Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
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