NYC Mayor Eric Adams Falls Ill During Rome Visit, Misses Migrant School Tour

Mayor Eric Adams of New York City became unwell during his weekend visit to Rome, which led to the cancellation of his scheduled tour of an Italian school that focuses on teaching migrants the local language.

At first, Adams seemed to be in good health, but he later fell ill and began coughing before his planned visit to the Sant’Egidio Community on Sunday.

The community, situated in a charming building in Rome’s Piazza di Santa Maria, offers language classes for migrants, emphasising the importance of fluency in Italian for obtaining legal residency in Italy.

In Adams’ absence, representatives from the Sant’Egidio Community expressed their disappointment but were willing to help him connect with their New York counterparts. Claudio Betti, a volunteer with Sant’Egidio, highlighted the effectiveness of their cultural assimilation programme and its potential applicability to the migrant crisis in New York City.

Sant’Egidio has offered Italian language classes to more than 8,000 migrants and refugees from different countries, promoting engagement with the local community as an integral part of their education.

Betti emphasised the significance of language integration in Italy, highlighting that being fluent in Italian is crucial for obtaining legal residency and actively participating in society.

Many individuals who have participated in Sant’Egidio’s programme have been able to secure sponsorships to settle in various parts of Italy. Their presence has played a significant role in boosting the country’s vitality, especially in light of its declining population.

Due to Adams’ illness, he was unable to personally witness the successful integration efforts at Sant’Egidio. However, the community is still committed to fostering dialogue and collaboration between Rome and New York City in addressing migrant issues.