Giovanni P. Silvagni of Rockville Centre was among the representatives of L’Associazione Culturale Italiana di New York (ACINY) who attended a private audience with Pope Leo XIV during an organizational visit to Rome on Oct. 29th.
ACINY, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting Italian culture and heritage, was invited to the Vatican in recognition of its ongoing efforts to support cultural programming, community engagement, and the preservation of Italian traditions in the United States.
The group participated in the Holy Father’s Wednesday General Audience at St. Peter’s Square before being escorted to a designated area near St. Peter’s Basilica for the private meeting. Although the audience had been arranged ahead of time, details of the format were not disclosed prior to the event.
During the encounter, Pope Leo XIV greeted each attendee and offered a blessing to the group. He shared brief remarks emphasizing the importance of practicing faith through consistent, everyday acts of kindness, patience, and service.
As part of the visit, ACINY presented the Pope with a chalice on behalf of the organization. Additionally, member Marino Bartoletti provided the Holy Father with a copy of his book, La Storia del Calcio Azzurro in 50 Ritratti (The History of Italian Football in 50 Stories).
The audience marked a significant moment for ACINY’s delegation, highlighting the organization’s continued relationship with the Vatican and its commitment to fostering cultural and faith-based initiatives within Italian-American communities.
