On a sun-dappled Sunday, August 17, 2025, Pope Leo XIV set aside the quiet comforts of his summer retreat at Castel Gandolfo to spend the day in the company of those often left on the margins: people experiencing homelessness, refugees, and families in need. The day’s events, which unfolded just outside Rome in the town of Albano Laziale, brought together more than 100 guests—many cared for by the Diocese of Albano’s Caritas programs—and the volunteers who serve them. The occasion, marked by the celebration of Mass and a shared meal, was a vivid testament to the pontiff’s enduring commitment to the poor and the spirit of inclusivity at the heart of his papacy.
The morning began at the Shrine of Santa Maria della Rotonda, a centuries-old sanctuary nestled near the papal retreat. There, Pope Leo celebrated Mass for the assembled guests, among them refugees, the homeless, and those living in poverty. According to the Associated Press, the congregation included around 110 people supported by Caritas, along with the volunteers who operate the diocese’s shelters, clinics, and social service offices. The event was more than a gesture; it was a living expression of the Church’s mission to serve all, regardless of circumstance.
In his homily, Pope Leo’s words resonated with a message of unity and humility. "We are the church of the Lord, a church of the poor — all precious, all active participants, each one bearing a unique word from God," he proclaimed, as reported by Substack. He urged the faithful not to leave the Lord outside of their churches, homes, or lives, but to welcome Him in the poor. "Let us not leave the Lord outside of our churches, our homes or our lives. Rather, let us welcome him in the poor — and then we will make peace even with our own poverty, the kind we fear and deny when we seek comfort and security at all costs… We can find God in the presence of everyone."
Reflecting on the day’s Gospel, in which Jesus declared, “I have come to set the earth on fire,” the pope interpreted the passage as a call to burn away prejudices and fears that perpetuate marginalization. "The fire Jesus came to bring burns away the prejudices, fears, and false cautions that still marginalize those who carry Christ’s poverty in their lives," he said. He called on all present to "bring the fire of love into the world — a love that lowers itself and serves, that responds to indifference with care." According to Pope Leo, "There is no greater peace than having that flame burning within us."
After Mass, the day’s spirit of solidarity continued at the Borgo Laudato Si’, the Vatican’s environmental education center nestled in the lush gardens of the papal villa in Castel Gandolfo. Named for Pope Francis’s 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’ (“Praise Be to You”), the center provided a fitting backdrop for a meal that was as much about community as it was about nourishment. The menu, prepared by local caterers, featured lasagna, eggplant parmesan, roast veal, fresh fruit salad, and a special dessert dubbed “Dolce Leone” in honor of the pope.
Gathered under a gazebo, Pope Leo broke bread with his guests, echoing a central tenet of Christian tradition. "Breaking bread together, a gesture that for us all is deeply significant: the act through which we recognize Jesus Christ present among us," he said, as reported by Substack. "It is during the Holy Mass, but it is also all of us gathered around the table, sharing the gifts the Lord has given us." The Holy Father’s words underscored the belief that, in sharing a meal, participants share not only food but also their stories, struggles, and hopes.
The luncheon was attended by a diverse group—refugees like Rosabal Leon, a recent arrival from Peru with her husband and two children, and elderly Romans such as 85-year-old Gabriella Oliveiro, who lives alone. Volunteers who run the Albano diocese’s shelters, clinics, and social service offices joined the guests, blurring the lines between those who give and those who receive. In the pope’s own words, "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 something to offer in terms of time, skills, and help." He insisted that in the church, everyone is poor and precious, all sharing the same dignity.
Bishop Vincenzo Viva of Albano echoed this sentiment as he welcomed the pope and guests before the meal. "In the faces of those seated at these tables today, we see the beauty of the Gospel made concrete — living testimony of who we are as the Church of Albano," the bishop said. "There is no ‘us’ and ‘them,’ no benefactors and beneficiaries: there are only people sharing bread — and with it, their stories, their struggles, and their hopes."
Pope Leo’s deep empathy for the marginalized is rooted in decades of ministry. Before ascending to the papacy, he spent much of his adult life working among the poor in Peru, first as an Augustinian missionary and later as a bishop. According to The Associated Press, he was instrumental in expanding Caritas’s work there, opening soup kitchens and shelters for migrants, and marshaling resources to build oxygen plants during the COVID-19 pandemic. His hands-on approach and insistence on dignity for all have shaped his vision for the church.
While the day’s events were steeped in solemnity and compassion, there were lighter moments as well. Pope Leo’s older brother, John Prevost, told NBC’s Chicago affiliate that the pontiff had hoped to spend part of his vacation reading legal thrillers—a favorite pastime—but had found little time for leisure amid his duties. Instead, he made use of the estate’s tennis court and swimming pool, and even managed to keep up a daily conversation with his brother about the New York Times Wordle puzzle. John revealed that the thing Leo missed most about his new life was the simple pleasure of driving—a pastime he found relaxing. “Driving to him is totally relaxing,” John said, recalling how his brother always insisted on being behind the wheel.
As Pope Leo prepares to return to the Vatican on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, there are hints that Castel Gandolfo may become a regular retreat for him, reviving a tradition set aside by his predecessor, Pope Francis. For now, though, the memory of a Sunday spent in communion with the poor, the homeless, and the volunteers who serve them lingers as a powerful reminder of the church’s mission—and the enduring human need for connection, dignity, and hope.
