Pope Leo XIV conducts a service for the homeless and invites them to lunch

• Pope Leo XIV held a service for the homeless in Albano.
• After the service, there was a lunch with lasagna and creamy custard.
• Leo previously ran programs to assist the poor during his service in Peru.

Castle Gandolfo, Italy — Pope Leo XIV held his last Sunday of summer vacation with several dozen homeless people and the underprivileged, as well as volunteers from the church who help them. He celebrated a special service for them and invited them to lunch at the summer residence of the Vatican, where they served lasagna and creamy custard.

Leo conducted the service in the sanctuary of St. Mary in Albano, not far from the papal summer residence in Castle Gandolfo. About 110 people were present at the service, including representatives of the local charity organization Caritas, as well as volunteers who work in shelters, clinics, and social services.

In his homily, Leo began with "the call to mercy," which unites those present.

"I urge you not to divide those who help and those who receive assistance, among them, those who are in need, and those who feel that they should be supported in some way, be it through time, skills, and assistance," he said.

Leo, formerly Robert Prevost, spent most of his adult life working with the poor in Peru, first as a missionary Augustinian and later as a bishop. According to observations of former parishioners and church workers, he significantly strengthened the work of the local Caritas organization, opening shelters and shelters for migrants and collecting funds for the construction of sanitary facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Previously, on Sunday, Leo was supposed to have lunch with guests at the center for ecological education of the Vatican "Borgo Laudato Si", which is located in the gardens of the papal villa in Castle Gandolfo. The center is named in honor of the ecological encyclical of Pope Francis 2015 "Laudato Si" (Praise Be to You).

According to information from Albano, local suppliers also prepared the menu, which included lasagna, parmesan from bagels, and creamy custard. For dessert, there were fruits and sweets, named in honor of the pope, "Dolce Leone".

Tags: Europe/Well-being