In the gardens of Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo XIV shared more than just a meal, he offered a profound reminder of human dignity rooted in the Gospel. Surrounded by the beauty of creation and seated beneath a large gazebo, the Holy Father joined over one hundred poor and vulnerable people for lunch, an event organized by the Diocese of Albano Laziale and Caritas Albano.
Speaking from the heart, the Pope called everyone to reflect on a central truth of our faith: “The most beautiful of all creation is that which was made in God’s image, that is, each one of us” (according to Vatican News, Alessandro Di Bussolo). This, he explained, means that in every person, especially the poor and marginalized, we can encounter the living presence of God.
PRAYER FOR ALL HUMANITY – FREE PDF DOWNLOAD
Communion Through Sharing
The Pope emphasized that the act of eating together is not merely a social occasion, but a sacred gesture. “Breaking bread together…is the act through which we recognize Jesus Christ present among us” (Vatican News). He drew a parallel to the Eucharist, explaining that the Holy Mass and the shared table both reveal Christ’s abiding presence when His people gather in love and unity.
Before blessing the food, Pope Leo invoked God’s grace “upon the gifts we are about to receive, upon all who worked to prepare this meal for us, and for those who made this celebration possible.” His prayer ended with a plea: “Help us, Lord, to always live united in Your love” (Vatican News).
A Prophetic Vision of Laudato Si’
The gathering also marked a visible sign of the Church’s mission of social justice. Cardinal Fabio Baggio, Director General of the Laudato Si’ Center for Advanced Formation, reminded those present that the Borgo Laudato Si’ exists to live out the Gospel by first opening its doors to the poor. He noted, “There can be no authentic ecology without social justice. This is the great teaching of Laudato Si’ and of the Church’s Social Doctrine” (Vatican News).
His words echo the encyclical’s call that care for creation and care for the poor are inseparable, as both stem from the same Gospel mandate of love.
Witness of the Local Church
Bishop Vincenzo Viva of Albano welcomed the Pope and introduced the guests, stressing that this meal was a sign of the Church made visible. “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” (Vatican News).
He rejected any division between benefactor and beneficiary, affirming instead that the Church is one family: “There is no ‘us’ and ‘them’…there are only people sharing bread, and with it, their stories, their struggles, and their hopes.”
The Heart of the Gospel
This simple act of lunch with the poor reflects the very heart of Christ’s message: communion, dignity, and hope. It is a living parable of the Kingdom of God, where the last are first and where each person is recognized as the “most beautiful of all creation” in God’s eyes.
As Pope Leo XIV reminded us at the table of the poor, to see Christ in one another, especially in those who suffer, is to live the Gospel not in theory, but in truth.
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