Vatican City (Vatican), 23 March (LaPresse) – "Aircraft should always be instruments of peace, never of war. No one should fear that threats of death and destruction will come from the sky. After the tragic experiences of the 20th century, aerial bombardment should have been banned forever. Instead, it still exists, and technological development, which is positive in itself, is being put at the service of war. This is not progress, it is regression.” So said Pope Leo XIV as he received executives and staff from ITA Airways. In the current context, the Pontiff emphasised, “it becomes even more important to chart courses of peace in the skies, and I thank you because, in the mission the Lord has entrusted to me, I know I can count on you”. A delegation from the Lufthansa Group was also present at the audience.