News

Tuesday, 15 April: Way of the Cross in the Vatican Gardens

The traditional Way of the Cross in the Vatican Gardens for employees of the Governorate, will take place during Holy Week, on Tuesday morning, 15 April at 8:15 a.m. The Way of the Cross will begin in the square in front of the Governorate and proceed towards the evocative backdrop of the Lourdes Grotto. Each station will be animated by a representative of each Directorate and Central Office, led by their respective Chaplains. The Via Crucis is organized by the Events Planning Office.

It will be an opportunity to share a moment of prayer in preparation for Easter, in accordance with Pope Francis’ words in his message for Lent 2025:

“God is asking us to examine whether in our lives, in our families, in the places where we work and spend our time, we are capable of walking together with others, listening to them, resisting the temptation to become self-absorbed and to think only of our own needs”.

Previati’s 14 Stations of the Way of the Cross on display in Saint Peter’s Basilica

Contemplating the mystery of the Passion of the Lord

Fourteen paintings, depicting the Stations of the Way of the Cross, by Gaetano Previati, were unveiled on Friday, 7 March, in Saint Peter’s Basilica, where they will remain throughout the Lenten Season, to give the faithful an opportunity to contemplate the mysteries of the Passion of the Lord.

Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga presides over a Eucharistic Concelebration for the liturgical memorial of Saint John of God, Patron Saint of the Vatican Pharmacy and of the Directorate of Health and Hygiene

We are all children of the same Father

Medicine, assistance and accompanying the sick require, not only the necessary professional qualifications, but also, and above all, a novel way of relating among brothers and sisters, all of whom are children of the same Father, said Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, President emeritus of the Governorate of Vatican City State, during a Eucharistic concelebration to mark the liturgical memorial of Saint John of God. The Holy Mass was celebrated on Thursday morning, 6 March, in the Palace of the Governorate’s Church of Mary, Mother of the Family, ahead of the official date of the liturgical memorial which falls on 8 March, to allow employees to participate.

The President of the Governorate meets 17 young university students from the Diocese of Trieste

A warm meeting of friendship and sharing took place between Sister Raffaella Petrini, President of the Governorate of Vatican City State, and a group of 17 young university students from the Diocese of Trieste, on Tuesday morning, 4 March, in the Palace of the Governorate. The students were led by Fr. Lorenzo Magarelli, Episcopal Delegate of the Diocesan Service of University Pastoral Care and Director of the diocesan weekly, “Il Domenicale di San Giusto”, and Fr. Sergio Frausin, Episcopal Delegate of Culture and University Pastoral Care.

Blessing of Lithuanian Cross in the Vatican Gardens

During a ceremony on Monday morning, 3 March, Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas, Coadjutor Archpriest of the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major blessed a wooden Lithuanian Cross in the Vatican Gardens.

Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga presides over Eucharistic concelebration to mark his farewell and the beginning of the presidency of Sr. Raffaella Petrini

In continuity and harmony, at the service of the Successor of Peter

Sometimes words alone are not enough to express what one feels within, when one’s service to the Pope, to the Hoy See and to the Governorate ends, after 53 years. The farewell becomes imbued with feelings, memories and affection, as occurred during the farewell ceremony of Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State and President of the Governorate, until 28 February. Having completed his 80th birthday, he wished to step down by celebrating Holy Mass on Monday morning, 3 March, in the Church of Mary, Mother of the Family.