Pope Leo XIV recalls his youth with humor and praises the Salesians’ educational and pastoral mission during his Lenten parish visit in Rome.
Newsroom (23/02/2026 Gaudium Press ) During his Sunday visit to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Rome’s Castro Pretorio district, Pope Leo XIV combined humor, humility, and heartfelt reflection. His remarks about his youthful discernment between religious orders drew laughter and warmth from the congregation — a moment that illuminated both his humanity and his esteem for the Salesian community.
“When I was young, before entering the Augustinians, I also visited the Salesian community. They came in second place — I’m sorry!” the Pope said, smiling as those present joined in laughter. Yet behind the joke lay a deeper message of gratitude and connection to a congregation known worldwide for its service to youth and education.
A Connection that Endures
The Pope went on to reveal that even decades after choosing the Order of Saint Augustine, the Salesian charism remains alive in his heart. “Something remained in my heart, linked to you, to the Salesian community,” he admitted, adding that during his first ten months as pontiff, he has visited more Salesian communities than Augustinian ones.
This closeness, he explained, is rooted in the shared mission of service — especially to those on society’s margins. “In many parts of the world, even where there is war, conflict, and poverty,” Pope Leo said, “you continue this important ministry where Jesus wants to be present.”
The Heart of the City and the Heart of Christ
The Sacred Heart Basilica, built at the initiative of Saint John Bosco with papal support from Pius IX and Leo XIII, stands only a short walk from Termini Station. Reflecting on its dual place as both sanctuary and crossroads, the Pope described it as a home “for the river of pilgrims who pass every day through Termini.”
“The heart of the city and the Heart of Jesus merge,” he told parishioners, stressing that mercy flows through this confluence: charity, hospitality, accompaniment, and the closeness of the Church to all.
A Synodal Spirit of “Walking Together”
Meeting later with the pastoral council and local educators, Pope Leo praised their collaborative spirit as a living expression of the Church’s synodal path. “You represent many sectors, many communities, many realities of this parish,” he said. “Working together, you embody this beautiful dimension of ecclesial life — the life of the Church.”
His brief exchange about parish language classes drew further smiles. After greeting the teacher, the Pope quipped, “I told him I would also join his Italian classes, which can always help!”
Faith Rooted in Service
Throughout his address, the Pope emphasized providence and gratitude. “God’s providence helps us to recognize these great gifts of your charism — your service to young people, your love for education, your presence in so many corners of the world,” he said.
For those gathered, the message resonated not only as papal affirmation but as an invitation to continue embodying what he called the “unwritten signs of Christ’s love.” These are expressions not chronicled in books, the Pope concluded, but “written in the heart of Jesus.”
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News and ACI Prensa
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