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“We too, like Mary, were chosen by God to embody his kindness, his tenderness, his mercy. He needs our hands to continue his work and our lips to announce his message”, highlighted Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, President of the Governorate of Vatican City State, on Friday morning, 20 December, as he celebrated Holy Mass for Vatican employees at the Altar of the Chair in Saint Peter’s Basilica, in preparation for the Solemnity of Christmas.
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.
Hundreds of tiny flames, like many pleas brought before the Heart of Mary so they may reach her Son’s Heart, lit a long procession through the Vatican Gardens on Friday evening, 31 May. The procession ended at the Grotta di Lourdes. A large number of faithful participated in the recital of the Rosary, surrounded by the light of the flambeaux, and listened to the concluding reflection of Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, President of the Governorate of Vatican City State.
The presence of a statue of Our Lady of La Vang, near the Tomb of the Apostle Peter in the Vatican City, is a sign of the loyalty of Vietnamese Catholics to Christ, to the Pope, and to the Church. Our Lady of La Vang is venerated with the title of Our Lady of Peace. It is with this objective that a statue of her was placed near the Jubilee Bell in the Vatican Gardens.
The profession of faith and the oath of fidelity are two important events in the lives of the employees of the Governorate, which occur after they are hired on a trial basis. Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, President of the Governorate of Vatican City State, presided at the so-called swearing ceremony on Thursday morning, 13 February, in the Governorate’s Church of Mary, Mother of the Family. Also present were Sister Raffaella Petrini, Secretary General of the Governorate, and a number of Directors.
Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, President Emeritus of the Governorate of the Vatican City State, celebrated Mass on the Fifth Sunday of Lent, for the personnel of the Directorate of Health and Hygiene on Saturday afternoon, March 21, in the Chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae in the Vatican.
The mystery of Mary is a mystery of “spoliation and annihilation, of hiddenness and littleness, of humility and service”, said Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, President of the Governorate of Vatican City State, presiding over day 7 of the Immaculate Conception Novena, on Thursday evening, 5 December, in Rome’s Basilica of the Twelve Holy Apostles. A Eucharistic Concelebration was celebrated in the Basilica cared for by the Order of Friars Minor Conventual, prior to the recital of the Rosary and the litanies.
On Friday morning, 21 February, Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, President of the Governorate of Vatican City State, presided at Holy Mass for the employees of the Directorate for Infrastructures and Services. He made two promises: “I will carry you in my heart” and “I will remember you in my prayers and in the daily sacrifice of Mass”.
Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, President of the Governorate of Vatican City State, and H.E. Ms. María Isabel Celaá Diéguez, Ambassador of Spain to the Holy See, will inaugurate an exhibition titled, “Bernini’s Souls” at the Pinacoteca of the Vatican Museums on Tuesday, 19 November.
An outpouring of warmth, faith and popular tradition surrounds the great Christmas tree placed at the center of the Courtyard of the Apostolic Palace in Castel Gandolfo. Hand-modeled terracotta figures recall the birth of Jesus. It is a Mexican nativity scene, with an essential number of characters: the Child, Mary, Joseph, the three Magi, a shepherd, and an angel. They have simple yet highly expressive forms: faces absorbed in contemplation of the mystery, all leaning toward the manger surrounded by the ox and the donkey.
“To care first of all for the fragility of human beings, to recognize the centrality of the human person, to nurture the gifts of every man and woman, to invest in people, and to create environments -including economic organizations and workplaces- in which their talents can be nurtured and truly flourish” are the tasks that leaders must carry out to promote a leadership of care.
Twenty fully electric Fiat Topolino vehicles were officially delivered to the Governorate of Vatican City State on the morning of Tuesday, 30 June.
The ceremony took place in the square in front of the Governorate Palace and was attended, among others, by Archbishop Emilio Nappa and Giuseppe Puglisi-Alibrandi, Secretaries General of the Governorate, together with Olivier François, CEO of the Fiat company and Chief Marketing Officer of Stellantis.
The traditional inauguration of the Nativity Scene and the lighting of the Christmas tree will take place in St. Peter’s Square on Monday, 15 December, at 5:00 p.m. The ceremony will be presided over by Sr. Raffaella Petrini, President of the Governorate of Vatican City State, in the presence of Archbishop Emilio Nappa and Attorney Giuseppe Puglisi-Alibrandi, Secretaries General of the same Governorate.
Work has begun on the installation of charging stations for electric vehicles and plug-in electric vehicles in the Vatican car park (Petriano). Ten charging stations with 20 ports will be available for “fast” charging, while an additional charging station with two ports for “ultra-fast” charging, will be installed beside the entrance to the Paul VI Hall. The installation of the charging stations is expected to be completed within three months, and be operational by the beginning of the Jubilee year.
The "Ecological Conversion 2035" program, launched in 2022 and aimed at reducing CO2 emissions to zero, has accomplished another important goal: Starting June 16, charging stations for electric vehicles owned by the State and private ones belonging to employees of the Governorate and the Holy See will be available at the Petriano parking lot by the Sant’Uffizio (20 "fast" charging points on 10 columns and two "ultra-fast" charging points on an additional column).
The Archdiocese of Chieti-Vasto, together with the Associazione Amici del Presepe di Atessa [Association of Friends for the Creche of the town of Atessa, Italy] the Libera Confraternita degli Artisti, and the Santi Pietro e Paolo Prison Education Centre of Vasto, Italy, will create the traditional Nativity scene in St Peter’s Square for Christmas 2026.
On the morning of Thursday, 21 November, a 29-metre tall red fir tree from the Municipality of Ledro in Trento Region, was delivered to Saint Peter’s Square by special transport organized by the Santoni firm.
It will be raised on Friday, 22 November, and will be decorated with ornaments and lights by the Directorate for Infrastructures and Services of the Governorate of Vatican City State.
At the conclusion of the Christmas Season, wood from the tree will be used to make an art piece that will be displayed at “Ledro Land Art”, which showcases installations made with natural materials, in the heart of Pur’s pine forest in Val di Ledro.
A new quarter has successfully concluded with the internship program involving Villanova University, which featured three students from the American university, once again confirming the strength and value of the collaboration between the Directorate of Telecommunications and Information Systems and the U.S. institution for higher learning.
The Postal and Philatelic Service of the Directorate of Telecommunications and Information Systems of the Governorate has produced a commemorative cover, a special postmark and a folder to mark the Feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary, celebrated on September 12.
The Postal and Philately Service of the Directorate of Telecommunications and Information Systems of the Governorate has issued a commemorative envelope, a special postal cancellation, and a presentation folder to mark the first anniversary of the election of Pope Leo XIV.
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