Pope Leo welcomes 200 vulnerable people to Castel Gandolfo, underscoring the Church’s mission of inclusion, hope, solidarity, and care.
Newsroom (10/07/2026 Gaudium Press ) Hope, welcome, and inclusion will take center stage on July 11 as Pope Leo hosts a special gathering for 200 people living in vulnerable circumstances at the Papal Gardens of Castel Gandolfo, transforming one of the Church’s most historic sites into a powerful symbol of openness and solidarity.
The initiative, titled “Lunch with the Pope,” will bring together guests accompanied by the Diocese of Rome and associated charitable organizations, including 35 children. Participants will spend the day surrounded by the natural beauty and spiritual heritage of Castel Gandolfo, underscoring a message that organizers say lies at the heart of the Church’s mission: everyone belongs.
For Donatella Parisi, Communications Coordinator of the Laudato Si’ Higher Education Center, the choice of venue carries profound significance.
“This place is especially precious because it was closed to the world for 400 years, then opened by Pope Francis, and today is thrown wide open by Pope Leo,” Parisi said. “It is now welcoming these people, who for us are the guests of honor.”
The day’s program will begin with Mass celebrated by Cardinal Fabio Baggio, Director General of the Laudato Si’ Center for Higher Education, and concelebrated by Archbishop Luis Marín de San Martín, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity. Following the liturgy, guests will be welcomed with refreshments and guided through the grounds by staff from the Laudato Si’ Village, known as Borgo Laudato Si’.
A Symbol of a Church Without Barriers
The event is designed not only as a gesture of hospitality but also as a public expression of the Church’s commitment to those often found on society’s margins.
Parisi described the Laudato Si’ Village as a place where history, nature, and spirituality intersect. The site contains the remains of Emperor Domitian’s villa and has served as a papal retreat since the 17th century. It is also home to a vast botanical park featuring more than 4,000 plants representing over 300 species.
Now, organizers say, that rich heritage is being placed in service of a broader mission.
“The message is that the Church should always be open to everyone, especially to those living on the existential peripheries,” Parisi explained.
She linked the initiative to Pope Leo’s repeated calls for inclusivity and solidarity, describing it as part of a wider journey inspired by the Church’s attention to people affected by conflict, poverty, injustice, and displacement.
“Today, on the eve of this event, we reaffirm that the Church is open to everyone and is a family, a community, and a safe harbor for those who need it most,” she said.
Guests Who Give Back
Among the attendees will be refugees, single mothers and their children, individuals with disabilities, and people who have completed training programs at the Laudato Si’ Village. For many, the gathering marks not only a day of celebration but also recognition of personal journeys toward integration, dignity, and employment.
Parisi challenged the common perception that vulnerable people are primarily recipients of aid.
“In reality, what we experience every day here at the Laudato Si’ Village is that these very people are the ones who give,” she said. “They enrich the Village and, I would even say, the whole Church through their presence.”
According to organizers, these guests bring perspectives that can reshape how communities understand strength and weakness. Their experiences highlight the value of viewing fragility not as a limitation but as a source of renewal, solidarity, and human connection.
The annual initiative is expected to rotate among different dioceses. While participants this year come from Rome, last year’s guests were from the Diocese of Albano, where Castel Gandolfo is located.
Community Support and Shared Generosity
The event has also inspired support from local businesses. Lunch has been donated by the Roman restaurant L’Isola della Pizza, while morning refreshments have been provided by Bar Duomo in Albano, a business closely connected to the Laudato Si’ Village project.
Parisi praised these contributions as a tangible demonstration of community generosity. The menu will feature traditional Italian cuisine while taking into account the cultural diversity of the guests.
“This is a beautiful testimony of generosity and support for an initiative like this,” she said.
Inspired by Laudato Si’ Vision
The gathering reflects Pope Leo’s strong interest in both Castel Gandolfo and the development of the Laudato Si’ Village. According to Parisi, the Holy Father closely follows the project and recently met participants from the first edition of the Borgo Laudato Si’ Dialogues at the Vatican on June 19.
That international meeting brought together representatives from businesses and industries to explore ways of making workplaces and production systems more sustainable. The discussions centered on fostering greater responsibility toward people and the environment.
At the heart of the initiative is a vision first articulated in Pope Francis’ teachings and reaffirmed in Magnifica Humanitas: the recognition that humanity is not separate from creation but part of it.
For organizers, the lunch at Castel Gandolfo embodies that same principle. By opening a historic papal residence to those facing hardship, the Church seeks to affirm a simple yet powerful idea—that every person deserves dignity, welcome, and a place at the table.
As two hundred guests gather in the Papal Gardens, the event aims to offer more than a shared meal. It serves as a living expression of a Church that sees itself as a family, committed to ensuring that those most often overlooked become, in this setting, the guests of honor.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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