Last day of “dolce vita” for New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who arrived in Rome for the World Meeting on Human Fraternity organized by the Vatican. After meeting with Pope Francis, where they talked “about the conflicts taking place in Africa, Haiti and the Middle East” and antisemitism, and with Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri, he met with the city’s Jewish and Islamic communities this morning.
First, Mayor Adams went to early mass at the Basilica of San Bartolomeo all’Isola. Then he walked to the Jewish Ghetto, crossing the Tiber, walking through Roman lanes and meeting the people. New York’s mayor stopped in front of a banner with photos of Israeli hostages held in captivity in Gaza and paid tribute to the millennial Jewish community. “Let’s bring these people home and destroy Hamas.” He continued by addressing the president of the Roman Jewish Community, Victor Fadlun, “We are brothers and your battle is our battle.” Mayor Adams was earlier welcomed into the Synagogue by Rome’s Chief Rabbi, Riccardo Di Segni.
“It is with honor and great pride that I welcome the Mayor of New York. Mayor Adams remembered the 1,200 Jews who were shot, murdered and kidnapped in that horrific event on Oct. 7 and he acknowledged Israel’s right to defend its people and to eradicate Hamas terrorists from all of Gaza. Thank you Mayor Adams for your strong words. My community’s response is that: yes, you are our brother. We are your brothers and the battles of democracy, respect and freedom, the battles of the West are our battles,” President Fadlun said.
Mayor Adams moved on to the Grand Mosque where he was received by Secretary-General of the Islamic Cultural Center of Italy-Grand Mosque of Rome Abdellah Redouane, who represented the board of directors, Imam Nader Akkad, President of the Egyptian community in Rome Adel Amer, Imam El Refaey Issa; Director of the World Muslim League Abdel Aziz Sarhan and a delegation from the Rome’s Muslim community. “New York Mayor has greatly appreciated the project of the largest Mosque in Europe, which is an excellent architectural interfaith dialogue, designed by Paolo Portoghesi, a Roman Catholic architect who was able to give the Roman Muslim Community a beautiful project of worship and peace,” Imam Nader Akkad said.
After these visits, to the Jewish Community, the Islamic Center and the Grand Mosque, Mayor Adams will travel to St. Mary’s Basilica for talks with staff of the Community of Sant’Egidio, asylum seekers and refugees–a crucial meeting given the severe situation in New York City.
Mayor Adams had arrived in Rome on the morning of May 10 for a World Meeting on Human Fraternity organized by the Vatican. On Friday, he entered the subway construction site near the Colosseum and talked with Mayor Roberto Gualtieri about developments in the Italian capital because “New York is the Rome of America,” since they are similar in size, number of tourists, traffic and the difficulties in administering such a metropolis. On Saturday, he met with Pope Francis, who welcomed him to the Vatican, along with about 40 other people, including mayors and Nobel Peace Prize winners. The two exchanged a few words.
“I spoke with him about the conflicts that are occurring globally and also about the program and initiatives activated with Patriots owner”–referring to Robert Kraft. “What he is doing to end anti-Semitism, I think is very important. I asked Pope Francis to pray for me and he answered me affirmatively and said, ‘Eric, pray for me too’. That shows the humanity in him as a person. It’s clear that there’s something special about Pope Francis, if only because of his interactions with us. And it was clear how attentive he was.,” Mayor Adams said.
