Pope Leo XIV called on the Vatican’s security force to rekindle their spiritual fervor, framing their daily duties as a profound evangelical witness.
Newsroom (06/10/2025, Gaudium Press ) In a homily delivered amid the serene setting of the Lourdes Grotto in the Vatican Gardens, Pope Leo XIV called on the Vatican’s elite security force to rekindle their spiritual fervor, framing their daily duties not merely as a profession but as a profound evangelical witness.
The Mass, celebrated on the feast day of St. Michael the Archangel—the patron saint of the Gendarmerie—drew together the corps’ members, their families, and clergy under the “maternal gaze of the Immaculate Virgin,” as the pontiff described the grotto’s statue of Our Lady of Lourdes. Speaking directly to the gendarmes, many of whom had recently sworn oaths of fidelity to the Holy See, Leo XIV wove biblical exhortations with practical counsel, emphasizing resilience against routine and complacency.
Drawing from St. Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy, the pope urged his audience to “fan into flame the gift of God that is in you,” quoting the apostle’s reminder: “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and self-control” (2 Tim 1:6-7). He portrayed the gendarmes’ role as one infused with Gospel values—exercising the “power of the law” not for domination, but for protection; extending charity to the vulnerable without seeking favor; and acting with prudence born of duty, not fear.
“Your discreet and confident presence can express an evangelical spirit not just in words, but also with a watchful gaze, a caring gesture that protects everyone around you,” Leo XIV said, acknowledging the often-unseen nature of their work. He praised the young recruits for their “act of freedom and dedication” in taking their oaths, a public affirmation of loyalty to the pope and the Church that demands “courage and willingness” in everyday commitments.
Echoing the apostles’ plea in the Gospel of Luke—”Increase our faith!” (Lk 17:5)—the pontiff prayed for a deepened relationship with Christ amid life’s “joys and trials,” sustained by the Holy Spirit’s grace. “When the days of toil and misunderstanding come, we will find in the Lord’s grace the comfort and loyalty that sustain us,” he assured the assembly.
Leo XIV highlighted the collaborative spirit essential to the Gendarmerie’s mission, encouraging newer members to learn from veterans in fostering “security, order, and respect.” He extended the corps’ protective mandate beyond physical safeguarding to the Church’s broader evangelizing role: “Live this same mission… with your uniform and, above all, with your humanity.”
In a heartfelt nod to the human cost of service, the pope expressed deep gratitude to the gendarmes’ families—”your wives, children, fathers, and mothers”—whose “silent ‘yes'” bolsters the force’s resolve. “Without them, your service would be more fragile,” he noted, invoking blessings of protection and peace upon them.
Concluding with invocations to the Virgin Mary as a “model of faith and dedication” and to St. Michael as a defender against evil, Leo XIV envisioned the tiny Vatican State as a global beacon. “With a humble and faithful heart, you will be witnesses of peace… which has the horizon of the world,” he said.
The annual tradition of the pope celebrating Mass with the Gendarmerie underscores the corps’ unique position: a 130-member force blending Swiss Guard ceremonial pomp with modern policing, sworn to defend the pope and Vatican sovereignty. As threats to religious sites evolve—from cyber intrusions to geopolitical tensions—the pope’s words serve as both spiritual rallying cry and reminder of the sacred underpinnings of secular duty.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican.va
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