From 18 to 26 October 2024 Charles III and Queen Camilla were on an official visit to Australia and Samoa. It was a highly anticipated trip, prepared with the utmost care and attended by members and ambassadors of the "United States of the World". Charles III and Queen Camilla landed in Sydney for a six-day tour of Australia, his 16th visit to the country, the first since he became king on 22 September 2022. In honour of the sovereigns, images of royal family members visiting Australia were projected onto the Sydney Opera House. The royals' visit also reopened the debate on whether Australia should move from monarchy to republic with an Australian head of state. The current Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is in fact a supporter of the transformation. In the past few days, Charles himself had said that he was not against this transformation, which would however have to be a free choice of the Australian people.
On the occasion of the meeting with Pope Francis, Secretary-General Michele Capasso and Pia Molinari donated to the Holy Father a canvas bag made by the mothers of Gaza who have had children killed by the conflict: on the bag, in addition to the flag of the United States of the World’, is written “Holy Father help us, we pray for you!”.
Secretary General Professor Michele Capasso - accompanied by Pia Molinari - during a cordial meeting with Pope Francis dedicated the first copy of the book "United States of the World. A History Truly of God". A large part of the one thousand two hundred pages - testifying to the choral action carried out by the "United States of the World" over the last forty years - is dedicated to Pope Francis. The Pontiff lingered at length flipping through the pages in which, with a selection of images accompanying the text, the main stages of his pontificate are witnessed: the meeting with SG Capasso in Luján (Argentina) in 2008, the first trip to Lampedusa in 2013 and the meeting with members of the "United States of the World" engaged on the island in the "Peace Laboratories", the trips to Manila and other parts of the world, up to the recent trips to Asia, Oceania, Luxembourg and Belgium.
Moved, the Holy Father relived many significant moments: from the meeting for inter-religious dialogue in Abu Dhabi (September 2019) to the solitude of the "Way of the Cross in St. Peter's Square" (April 2020); from his dialogues with Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini to his incessant appeals for peace, against all wars; from his meeting in the Vatican with Shimon Peres, Abu Mazen and Bartholomew I (June 2014) to his recent visit to Venice with young people (April 2024); from his weeping before the statue of the Immaculate Conception in Rome (December 2022) to his participation in the G7 in Puglia (June 2024); from his meeting with Queen Elizabeth II (April 2014) to his meeting with the Salesians in Turin (June 2024); from the Naples Colloquium on the Mediterranean (June 2019) to his meeting with the Jesuits in Belgium (September 2024); from his visit to the "Totem for Peace" in the port of Naples with the urn of the "Unknown Migrant" (March 2015) to his prayers in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. At the end of the meeting, Pope Francis thanked for the "filial devotion" and personally took the book, thanking for the "precious gift", calling it "This is the Book of the Heart". Then, turning to Michele Capasso and Pia Molinari he exclaimed: ‘Read my new encyclical in the coming days, it is dedicated precisely to the Heart of Jesus... and do not forget to pray for me!’
Secretary General Professor Michele Capasso and Pia Molinari had an affectionate meeting with Pope Francis. On this occasion, the Holy Father was shown the path of the "United States of the World" and the importance of the "Constitution" based precisely on the encyclicals "Laudato sì" and "Fratelli tutti" promulgated by the Pontiff. Secretary General Michele Capasso stressed "how an immense famine of love and joy is invading humanity, in the face of rampant selfishness that is destroying the fundamental values of life". On this occasion, an original copy of the text of the "Constitution of the United States of the World" containing the rights and duties of the planet's inhabitants was dedicated to the Pope. Pia Molinari offered the Pontiff a Spanish language copy of the magazine of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians ‘DMA’ and two copies of the magazine ‘OSUM’: the first, from March 2015, reports the visit of Pope Francis to the "Totem for Peace" containing the urn with the relics of the "Unknown Migrant" in the port of Naples; the second reports the appointment of "Ambassador to the memory" of Blessed Carlo Acutis and the appointment of many young "Standard Bearers", for the Earth and for Peace. At the end of the meeting, the first copy of Michele Capasso's book "United States of the World. Una storia davvero di Dio" and a canvas bag made by the mothers of Gaza whose children were slaughtered in the ongoing conflict.
The "United States of the World" expresses deep concern following Israeli gunfire at the United nations interim force in Lebanon (Unifil) mission and condemns any attack on Unifil security. Two blue helmets were wounded after shots were fired at a Unifil observation tower located at the Unifil headquarters in Naqoura, southern Lebanon. Other gunshots were fired at Unifil positions in Ras Naqura and Labbuneh, causing material damage but no casualties. We are waiting for an explanation from the Israeli authorities. The protection of the blue helmets is an obligation imposed on all parties to the conflict. The "United States of the World" urges the parties to respect this obligation and to allow Unifil to continue to implement its mandate, including respecting its freedom of movement. We pay tribute to all Unifil personnel - from all participating countries - for their continued commitment and professionalism under these difficult conditions. The "United States of the World" reiterates the need for an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Lebanon, allowing for the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
