Mayor de Blasio is doing more than praying for a papal visit to the Big Apple — on Monday he lobbied a top aide to Pope Francis in Rome.
“Cardinal Parolin was very open to the request,” de Blasio said after meeting with Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Cardinal Parolin.
The mayor also discussed immigration and other issues with the cardinal before talking about income inequality with Italy Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini and lunching with Minister for Integration Cécile Kyenge and her family.
It was the second day of the de Blasio family’s eight-day Italian trip.