Pope prays for ‘unity and peace in Italy’ as Giorgia Meloni takes power

Country's first female prime minister leads the most rightwing government since the second world war

Pope Francis offered prayers for unity and peace in Italy" as Giorgia Meloni, Italy's first female prime minister, took the helm of the country's most rightwing government since the second world war.

Meloni, the leader of Brothers of Italy, a party with neofascist origins, met the outgoing prime minister, Mario Draghi, for a formal handover ceremony on Sunday. I did not expect this welcome," Meloni, 45, said as she was greeted by Draghi, referring to the ceremonial guard. It's an emotionally impacting thing."