The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, has given Pope Leo XIV a 13-year-old Spanish olive bonsai during the meeting that both held this Monday at the Apostolic Nunciature, within the framework of the apostolic visit that the Pontiff is making to Spain since last Saturday.
Sources from Moncloa explain that the olive tree is a "universal symbol of peace, dialogue, and understanding, values shared by Spain and the Vatican," and emphasize that it is a species present for centuries in the country's history, culture, and economy, where it embodies "the perfect balance between tradition and innovation, between respect for historical roots and the adoption of technological vanguard."
From the President's circle, they also highlight that the chosen gift aims to allude to the challenges of the 21st century and the need for adaptation in the face of climate change, the development of precision agriculture, and the commitment to a sustainable development model, conceived "as a bridge between the rural and the global."