Pope Leo XIV visits a Roman parish in Torrevecchia, urging children and families to foster peace, reconciliation, and compassion during Lent.
Newsroom (09/03/2026 Gaudium Press) Pope Leo XIV continued his pastoral journey across the outskirts of Rome on Sunday, visiting the Parish of Santa Maria della Presentazione in the western neighborhood of Torrevecchia. The encounter, his fourth parish visit since mid-February and his penultimate before Easter, signified a continued emphasis on closeness, service, and hope among the faithful.
Gathering in the parish square, parishioners welcomed the Holy Father—families, children preparing for First Communion, scouts, and youth groups among them. Parish priest Father Paolo Stacchiotti greeted him alongside Cardinal Baldo Reina, Vicar for the Diocese of Rome, and Cardinal Francesco Montenegro, Archbishop Emeritus of Agrigento.
A Conversation with the Young: “Everyone Can Build Peace”
Upon arrival, Pope Leo met with children and young people who offered him letters and questions. Their inquiries, focused on faith and friendship, found a compassionate ear in the Pontiff, who urged them to stand against violence, bullying, and division.
“Everyone can become a builder of peace,” he told them, encouraging reconciliation among friends and the courage to forgive. His message, delivered with warmth and directness, underscored his pastoral focus: faith lived in everyday gestures of kindness and understanding.
Welcoming Jesus into Everyday Life
Turning to the children preparing for their First Communion, Pope Leo reflected on Qualcuno bussa al tuo cuore (“Someone Knocks at Your Heart”) by Archbishop Mario Delpini and the bishops of Lombardy—a text on prayer and vocation. He invited the young faithful to open their hearts to Jesus, who “comes into people’s homes, hearts and lives,” and to recognize Him in those who suffer and in acts of charity.
He emphasized that prayer is a living conversation, a personal relationship that transforms both heart and community life. This moment of catechesis concluded with the recitation of the Lord’s Prayer, uniting those present in a shared expression of faith.
Meeting Families and the Sick: A Shepherd’s Tenderness
Following the outdoor gathering, Pope Leo met families experiencing economic hardship and those struggling with illness. His gestures of compassion continued inside the church, where he greeted elderly and sick parishioners before celebrating Mass.
Light-heartedly, the Pope noted the presence of several cardinals with him, remarking that their gathering resembled a “small conclave.” The remark drew laughter and reflected the humble humanity with which he often disarms formal moments.
A Homily Rooted in Local Realities
During Mass, concelebrated with Cardinal Baldo Reina, Pope Leo XIV spoke on the Gospel of the Samaritan woman. He connected the passage to contemporary challenges: social marginalization, economic struggles, and the anxieties of youth surrounding work, housing, and community belonging.
Many, he said, arrive at the parish “carrying wounds and seeking hope,” a reminder that the Church must stand close to those who suffer. He urged parishioners to reflect the Church’s maternal mission—to welcome, listen, and accompany without judgment.
Trust, Faith, and Service
Concluding his homily, Pope Leo called the faithful to move forward “with trust,” recognizing that the Lord walks beside them in their daily lives. Lent, he said, offers an opportunity to rediscover the grace of Baptism and renew one’s faith through service and compassion.
Before departing, the Pope met with volunteers from Caritas, thanking them for their commitment to aiding the elderly, the sick, migrants, and those living in poverty. Every person, he reminded them, “has value because all are created in the image of God” and share the dignity of His sons and daughters.
Through the simplicity of his words and gestures in Torrevecchia, Pope Leo XIV reaffirmed an enduring truth of his ministry: peace begins with each person’s choice to reconcile, listen, and serve with open hearts.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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