Leo XIV at the “Governorate Family Day Celebration”

Giving life, giving love

It was an evening of fun with family and friends in which Pope Leo XIV took part, meeting parents, grandparents, young people and children on the occasion of the “Governorate Family Day Celebration,” held on Saturday, September 5, in the Vatican Gardens.

The Pontiff addressed the many employees of the Vatican Governorate and their families recalling that during the summer he had already met many of the children present, during summer camp,who had even learned a little mathematics. He therefore joked with them about what “six-seven” makes. He then referred to the importance of the family as the place where God’s love is made manifest. Drawing on a reflection by Saint John Paul II, he described the family as the “mirror” in which God looks at himself and sees two of the most beautiful miracles: one is giving life and the other is giving love.

Upon his arrival — accompanied by Archbishop Petar Rajič, Prefect of the Papal Household and by the Vice-Regent of the Prefecture of the Papal Household, the Augustinian Father Edward Daniang Daleng — he was welcomed by Sr Raffaella Petrini, President of the Governorate of Vatican City State, Cardinals Fernando Vérgez Alzaga and Giuseppe Bertello, Presidents emeriti of the Governorate, Archbishop Emilio Nappa and Attorney Giuseppe Puglisi-Alibrandi, Secretaries General. Also present was Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

Sr Petrini formally greeted the Pope, thanking him for his presence at the third edition of this Family Celebration. She then highlighted the spirit of fraternity, shared by the families of the many collaborators who each day “carry out their service for you in the Governorate with great dedication and generosity.” This, she added, is an opportunity “for us to thank them all from the bottom of our hearts and to reaffirm, once again, our gratitude and filial affection for you, and to reiterate that it is a great joy for us to serve and assist you, in our own small way, in the great mission entrusted to you by the Lord.”

Before the conclusion of the event, Pope Leo approached the crowd to greet those present, shake hands and bless many children. Their excitement was palpable.

Before the Pope’s arrival, Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, President emeritus of the Governorate, had presided over the Holy Mass at the Lourdes Grotto in the Vatican Gardens. In his homily, he commented on the Gospel of Matthew for the Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time and invited those present to exercise prudence in judging others and to consider how often we misjudge our fellow man and woman.The Cardinal stressed the importance of dialogue, because in our relationships with others everything must be motivated by love, as Saint Paul reminds us. In this sense, when someone in the community makes a mistake, that person should be granted special attention, not immediately condemned. Only the community, he said, can judge whether a brother or sister is beyond correction. Before the final blessing, the prayer for the family reproduced below was read.

Among the concelebrants were Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga and Archbishop Emilio Nappa, together with the chaplains of the various Directorates and Central Offices. Fr Franco Fontana, Coordinator of the Chaplains of the Directorates and Central Offices, directed the liturgical celebration.

Games, inflatable slides, drawing areas, soap bubbles and the Little Firefighters’ Village had been set up for the children. There were also jugglers, live music and numerous food stands for everyone to enjoy. It was a special moment of friendship and community.

Prayer for the Family

Heavenly Father,

we are here before You to praise and thank You

for the great gift of the family.

We pray to You for families consecrated in the sacrament of marriage,

that they may rediscover each day the grace they have received and, as little domestic Churches,

may bear witness to Your Presence

and to the love with which Christ loves the Church.

We pray to You for families experiencing difficulties and suffering,

illness or trials that You alone know: sustain them and make them aware

of the path of sanctification to which You call them,

so that they may experience Your infinite mercy

and find new ways to grow in love.

We pray to You for children and young people, that they may encounter You

and joyfully respond to the vocation You have planned for them;

for parents and grandparents,

that they may be aware

that they are a sign of God’s fatherhood and motherhood in caring for the children whom, in body and spirit, You entrust to them;

and for the experience of fraternity

that the family can offer to the world.

Lord, grant that every family

may live its vocation to holiness in the Church as a call to become a protagonist of evangelization, in the service of life and peace, in communion with priests and with every state of life.

Bless every family.

Amen.