On August 17, 2025, the tranquil gardens of Castel Gandolfo—the Vatican’s famed lakeside estate—bustled with an unusual kind of festivity. Pope Leo XIV, wrapping up the final Sunday of his summer vacation, welcomed over a hundred guests who are rarely found at papal luncheons: refugees, the homeless, and the poor, along with the volunteers and staff from the Diocese of Albano’s Caritas programs who support them daily. The day, marked by prayer, community, and a hearty Italian meal, underscored the Pope’s deep commitment to a Church that lives out the Gospel among those most in need.
The celebration began at the Shrine of Santa Maria della Rotonda in Albano Laziale, a short drive from the papal villa. According to Catholic World Report, Pope Leo presided over Mass with about 110 clients and volunteers of Caritas—the local branch of the Catholic charity network—many of whom are experiencing homelessness or living in precarious conditions. The Pope’s homily was anything but routine. He spoke with conviction about the “fire of charity” and the radical love at the heart of Christ’s message: “I encourage you not to distinguish between those who assist and those who are assisted, between those who seem to give and those who seem to receive, between those who appear poor and those who feel they have time, skills, and help to offer.”
It was a message that resonated throughout the day. As reported by the Associated Press, Leo urged the faithful to tear down the invisible walls that separate people in the Church and society. “Each person is a gift for others. Let us tear down walls,” he declared, emphasizing that “only together, only by becoming one body in which even the most fragile has full dignity, do we truly become the body of Christ, the church of God.”
The Gospel reading that morning, from Luke 12:49-53, set the tone for the Pope’s reflections. “Jesus said to his disciples: ‘I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!’” Pope Leo explained that this was not the destructive fire of weapons or harsh words, but rather “the fire of love—a love that stoops to serve, that responds to indifference with care and to arrogance with gentleness; the fire of goodness, which doesn’t cost like weapons do, but freely renews the world.” He acknowledged that such love can come at a price—misunderstanding, ridicule, even persecution—but insisted there is no greater peace than having this flame within.
After Mass, the group made its way to Borgo Laudato Si’, the Vatican’s educational center for environmental stewardship, nestled within the lush gardens of the Castel Gandolfo estate. Named after Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical on care for creation, the center provided a fitting venue for a meal that celebrated both human dignity and the beauty of the natural world. Local caterers served up generous helpings of vegetable lasagna, eggplant parmesan, roast veal, fruit salad, and a dessert dubbed “Dolce Leone” in honor of the Pope. Waiters in crisp white shirts and black trousers moved between the tables, ensuring every guest felt the warmth and hospitality of the occasion.
Pope Leo’s tablemates that afternoon included Rosabal Leon, a Peruvian refugee who had arrived in Italy just a few months prior with her husband and children, and Gabriella Oliveiro, an 85-year-old Roman woman living alone. Their presence was emblematic of the day’s theme: the Church as “a church of the poor—all precious, all active participants, each one bearing a unique word from God.” Before blessing the meal, the Pope remarked, “How important it is to always remember that we find this presence of God in every person.”
Cardinal Fabio Baggio, director general of Borgo Laudato Si’, welcomed the Pope and guests, noting that the luncheon was a beautiful way to mark Leo’s first 100 days as pontiff. He highlighted how the event affirmed Catholic teaching that “unites care for creation with care for every person.”
The Pope’s commitment to the marginalized is no passing gesture. As AP detailed, Leo XIV—born Robert Prevost—spent most of his adult life serving the poor in Peru, first as an Augustinian missionary and later as a bishop. He was instrumental in expanding the reach of Caritas in Peru, opening soup kitchens, shelters for migrants, and even rallying funds for oxygen plants during the COVID-19 pandemic. His hands-on experience shapes his papacy, bringing a practical, compassionate approach to the Vatican’s social mission.
Leo’s homily and lunchtime conversations were laced with humility and a call to action. He prayed that Catholics everywhere would allow Jesus’ fire to burn away “the prejudices, the caution and the fears that still marginalize those who carry the poverty of Christ written into their lives.” He also thanked Catholic communities around the world for their efforts to facilitate encounters between people of different backgrounds, urging them to remain “on fire” with God’s love.
After lunch, the Pope led the Angelus prayer with pilgrims gathered in Piazza della Liberta, just outside the villa. He reminded listeners that “acting in truth has its cost, because there are those in the world who choose lies, and the devil, who takes advantage of the situation, often seeks to block the actions of good people.” Yet, he insisted, Christians must not “respond to insolence with vengeance” but continue to live out the Gospel’s teachings on charity, even when it is difficult. He concluded with a prayer for the victims of severe flooding in Pakistan, India, and Nepal, and for peace in regions plagued by conflict, asking, “Let us pray that efforts to bring wars to an end and to promote peace may bear fruit, and that in negotiations the common good of peoples may always be placed first.”
As the day wound down, the Pope’s personal side peeked through. According to his older brother John Prevost, Leo found the retreat at Castel Gandolfo relaxing, even if he didn’t get to read his favorite legal thrillers. He enjoyed the estate’s tennis court and swimming pool, and, as John joked to NBC’s Chicago affiliate, what Leo missed most about being pope was the freedom to drive himself. “Driving to him is totally relaxing,” John said, recalling how his brother would always insist on being behind the wheel—if only to avoid critiquing someone else’s driving.
For Pope Leo XIV, the day was far more than a summer interlude. It was a living testament to his vision of a Church that welcomes, uplifts, and finds Christ in every person—especially those the world so often overlooks.