Rome, March 15 – Pope Leo XIV made his fifth and final pastoral visit before the Easter celebrations to the parish of Sacro Cuore di Gesù in Ponte Mammolo, a working-class and multi-ethnic neighborhood in the north-east periphery of the Capital, near Rebibbia prison. The Pope, who arrived earlier than scheduled at 3:50 PM, was welcomed with great enthusiasm by the faithful gathered in the oratory courtyard. He greeted the crowd, including disabled people, a group of parish volunteers, and Red Cross operators. Pope Leo also acknowledged those on balconies and outside, stating, “We are all invited. Come all because in Jesus Christ there is salvation. We want to share this love.” He also noted the presence of a large Peruvian community, saying, “There is a very large Peruvian community here. Good, good.”
Pope’s Message: “Give Hope to a World at War”
During his visit, Pope Leo XIV delivered a strong message against war, stating, “War is an absurdity in which God cannot be enlisted.” He further emphasized, “You represent the parish that represents the heart of Jesus. The heart is the love of God. I want to thank all those who are part of this parish who help immigrants, the elderly, and the unemployed. You are a sign of hope in a world where suffering and difficulties are too great. Before coming here, I heard a lady who lost everything because of the war. We can be that sign of hope in that world where these signs no longer exist.” He reiterated, “We can be signs of hope in a world where they are no longer found: you have created a community that knows how to welcome in a world where pain and difficulties are so great.”
“Dialogue Without Truce for Peace”
The Pontiff stressed the urgent need for peace and dialogue: “Currently, in the world, many of our brothers and sisters suffer from violent conflicts, caused by the absurd pretense of solving problems and differences with war, while we must dialogue without truce for peace.” He also observed, “Someone, then, even pretends to involve the name of God in these choices of death, but God cannot be enlisted by darkness. He comes instead, always, to give light, hope, and peace to humanity, and it is peace that those who invoke him must seek. This is the message of this Sunday: beyond any abyss into which man may fall, because of his sins, Christ comes to bring a stronger light, capable of freeing him from the blindness of evil, so that a new life may begin.”
Welcoming the Pope: Banners and Vatican Colors
The parish prepared a warm welcome for the Pope, with a banner displaying “Welcome.” The facades of the buildings were adorned with Vatican flags and yellow and white balloons, representing the Holy See’s colors. The faithful expressed their joy and gratitude for the Pope’s visit. Rita, a 56-year-old parishioner, shared her feelings: “We are happy about the Pope’s visit. He comes here where we are forgotten by God.”
Parish Priest: “Here We Gather the Last”
Don Domenico Romeo, the parish priest of Sacro Cuore di Gesù, spoke to Vatican media about the community’s mission. “Being priests in these areas means going to gather the last, those with great difficulty, trying to help them walk alone, to regain lost dignity. Here there are several stories of hardship, where often the presence of parents is lacking. But all families need a hand.” Don Romeo, who also teaches religion in two schools, described himself as “a zipper between the school and the neighborhood,” highlighting his responsibility to help young people embrace the parish so that “the street does not become a bad teacher for them.” He acknowledged that this has happened with some, as “the street is often the shortest way to make money.”
Previous Papal Engagements and Future Outlook
This pastoral visit follows recent significant events involving Pope Leo XIV, including discussions about his residence at the Apostolic Palace and the upcoming visit of Spanish royals to Rome on March 20th, which will include a tribute to the Pope. The Pope’s message at Ponte Mammolo resonates with his recent Angelus address, where he called for a ceasefire in the Middle East in the name of Christians and all people of good will.
The visit to Ponte Mammolo underscores the Pope’s commitment to reaching out to communities facing social and economic challenges, emphasizing themes of hope, peace, and welcoming. The full statistical data regarding the tourist season 2024 will be published on the GOPT website at the end of October.
