After celebrating Mass at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the Castro Pretorio neighborhood in Rome, Pope Leo XIV met with members of the community founded by Saint John Bosco, to whom the parish is entrusted, expressing appreciation for their service towards young people, especially foreigners.
By Edoardo Giribaldi
“As a young man, before entering the Augustinians, I also visited the Salesian community. You came in second place — I’m sorry!”
Pope Leo’s “confession” to the members of the community founded by St. John Bosco was welcomed with laughter, as he addressed them during his visit to the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the Castro Pretorio neighbourhood in Rome on Sunday, February 22.
He expressed his appreciation for their service in many parts of the world, “where there is war, where there is conflict, where there is poverty, where Jesus wants to be present.”
A closeness “of Christ and of the Church” that also takes concrete shape on the streets of Rome, in its “heart,” through the charity activities promoted by the parish’s pastoral council.
His meeting with the religious community and the pastoral council were the two concluding moments of the Pope’s pastoral visit to the parish located just a few steps from the Termini Train Station. Cardinal Baldo Reina, Vicar General of Rome, was also present.
The “unwritten signs” of charity
It was thanks to the commitment of the St. John Bosco, inspired by the wishes of two Popes, Pius IX and Leo XIII, that the Basilica was able to be built. After a greeting by Fr. Fabio Attard, Rector Major of the congregation, the Pope spoke. He drew inspiration from the lectern opened at the ambo, where a verse from Chapter 20 of the Gospel of John was displayed, mentioning the “many other signs” performed by Jesus “that are not written in this book.”
“You are part of, you are the expression of, one of these signs not written in the book, but written in the heart of Jesus: even today you continue this very important service in many parts of the world, even where there is war, where there is conflict, where there is poverty, where Jesus wants to be present,” the Pope highlighted.
The Pope meets with the Salesian community (@Vatican Media)
Support for “the least in the Kingdom”
The Pope also underlined the richness of closeness and charisms that the Salesian family has: “this service to young people, this love for educational ministry, so many expressions that you live out in many countries around the world.”
The Holy Father went on to describe as “great” the opportunity to celebrate their common faith together, feeling close to “the least in the Kingdom.” In Castro Pretorio these are for example the young people — not only Italians — who can access services such as Italian language classes.
“Earlier I told the teacher that I would also join his Italian classes, which can always help!” he joked.
The Pope meets with the pastoral council (@Vatican Media)
The “heart” of Jesus and of the city
The Pope then met with the pastoral council of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. After asking for applause for the parish priest, Fr. Javier Ortiz Rodriguez, the Pope highlighted how the church represents a “home” for the “river of pilgrims who pass every day through Termini.” The “heart” of the city and the “Heart of Jesus” merge, he said.
He echoed the same words used by the priest at the end of the Mass. “It is truly beautiful to live this spirit not only of the heart of a city, but of the Heart of Jesus, which is always full of love and mercy,” he emphasized.
“A mercy that is expressed in so many services, so many forms of charity, of welcome, accompaniment, of the closeness of Christ, the closeness of the Church to all these people.”
The Pope meets with the pastoral council (@Vatican Media)
“Walking together”
Expressing hope for further opportunities to meet in the future, Pope Leo noted that the pastoral council and the educational and pastoral community in the Salesian spirit, has a “synodal” nature in its etymological meaning of “walking together.”
“And so you, who represent many sectors, many communities, many realities of this parish, gathered here together, working together, also represent this beautiful dimension of ecclesial life, of the life of the Church,” he said. “Thank you for all that you do.”