ROME - The president of the Catalan Generalitat, Quim Torra, has written to US President Donald Trump and Pope Francis, asking them to mediate for a new referendum on ''Catalonia's self-determination''. The letter, published by El Periodico and cited by other Spanish media, was addressed on September 26 to Premier Pedro Sanchez, with a copy sent to Trump and the pontiff, to the governments of the European Union and to the presidents of China, Ukraine and Kosovo.

In the letter, Torra asks Sanchez to authorize his government to open a mediation ''without preconditions'' and assures the Catalan party ''will not focus on reaching immediate independence''.

Two days ago, after the letter was sent, Torra sent Sanchez an ultimatum, claiming that, if the executive will not present before November a ''concrete'' proposal for the ''right to self-determination'', or a new referendum, separatist parties will not ensure the stability of the central government.

