“As someone who’s deeply connected to my own faith and as the mayor of a city with millions of Catholics, it was a sacred moment for me just to have an opportunity to hear from Pope Francis as he leads the world on the most important issues of our time, from the global refugee crisis to climate change, to the journey towards peace,” Adams said during a virtual press briefing, according to a transcript provided by the Mayor’s office.

 

Adams, who identifies as Christian, is in Rome to participate in the World Meeting on Human Fraternity, organized by the Vatican’s Fratelli Tutti Foundation, which Pope Francis established in 2021, and is headed by Cardinal Mauro Gambetti.

 

“I’m traveling to Rome because the solutions to the problems facing our city, country, and planet must be solved together — by sharing ideas and strategies,” Adams said on his mayoral channel on X, @NYCMayor, May 10.

 

“I think all of us, Catholics or not practicing Catholics, with all the Popes, millions of people come out to greet them whenever they visit a city. Clearly there’s something special about Pope Francis, just down to his interactions with you. It was clear how attentive he was. Several people interacted with him, but I found it an authentic attentiveness that he displayed to hear,” Adams said in response to a question from Emily Ngo of Politico.

 

“Clearly being a Pope, you’re not going to solve every problem that is brought in front of you. It starts with actually hearing people and listening to people. That’s what I saw, not only when he communicated with me, but when he communicated with others, I watched closely and he was extremely attentive. I know that meant a lot to all of us who were in the room,” Adams said.