(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAR 4 - "A person who can listen and reach the heart: these are the qualities that struck me about Leo XIV during our first meeting and stayed with me during our second meeting. Today, with great emotion, I had the honour of attending an audience with the Holy Father in St. Peter's Square alongside Nova Gorica Mayor Samo Turel," said the mayor of Gorizia, Rodolfo Ziberna. This meeting comes just over two months after a meeting between Gorizia's mayor and other ANCI administrators, which was also attended by Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, president of the Italian Episcopal Conference. "We had the opportunity to explain to the Pope how our European Capital of Culture, the first cross-border Capital in history," he added, "successfully transformed a border long marred by conflict and tragedy into an incredible opportunity for international cohesion, thus sending a message of peace and collaboration that is more important than ever, especially in these times." (ANSA).