A Sign of Friendship 

As a symbolic gesture of friendship between the Vatican City State and the Republic of Azerbaijan, a pomegranate tree was planted in the Vatican Gardens. The occasion was the visit of H.E. Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva, First Vice-President of Azerbaijan.

La Banda musicale del Corpo della Gendarmeria si esibirà in concerto, venerdì, 5 dicembre, alle ore 19.30, nella Basilica romana di San Vitale al Quirinale, nel contesto della rassegna musicale Sacrae Militiae Sonus.

The Musical Band of the Gendarmerie Corps will perform in concert on Wednesday, at 7:30 p.m., in the Roman Basilica of San Vitale at the Quirinale, as part of the musical series Sacrae Militiae Sonus.

The Band—conducted by Maestro Stefano Iannilli and coordinated by Deputy Commissioner of the Gendarmerie Mauro Colaiacomo, will be accompanied by the Giovani Don Bosco choir, directed by Veronica Piscitelli.

È stata benedetta dal Cardinale Rolandas Makrickas, Arciprete coadiutore della Basilica papale di Santa Maria Maggiore, la lignea Croce lituana, collocata nei Giardini Vaticani.

Una statua di Maria Rosa Mistica è stata benedetta in Vaticano, lunedì 14 aprile, dal Cardinale Víctor Manuel Fernández, Prefetto del Dicastero per la Dottrina della fede. Alla cerimonia hanno partecipato l’Arcivescovo Emilio Nappa, Segretario Generale del Governatorato dello Stato della Città del Vaticano, e i due Segretari del Dicastero per la Dottrina della fede, Monsignor John Joseph Kennedy e don Armando Matteo. 

The six Benedictine nuns who reside in the Vatican’s Mater Ecclesiae Monastery have been praying for Pope Francis’ recovery, ever since he entered Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.

A calling that sets one on the journey

A calling that becomes contagious—that of Saint Clare of Assisi—when, in San Damiano, even her mother Ortolana and her sister Beatrice embraced the same form of life. This is confirmation that it was not an isolated choice but rather “a calling that even today sets us on the journey, if we listen to it—a calling that provokes processes of inner transformation”.Thus spoke the Bishop of Albano, Monsignor Vincenzo Viva, as he presided over the concelebrated Eucharist on the feast of Saint Clare of Assisi, Monday afternoon, August 11, at the Monastery of the Immaculate Conception of the Poor Clares, located within the territory of the Pontifical Villas. The latter are administered by the Governorate of Vatican City State.

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.

A statue of Mary Rosa Mystica (Mystic Rose) was blessed in the Vatican on Monday, April 14, by Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. The ceremony was attended by Archbishop Emilio Nappa, Secretary General of the Governorate of the Vatican City State, along with the two Secretaries of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Monsignor John Joseph Kennedy and Father Armando Matteo. 

Il Servizio Poste e Filatelia della Direzione delle Telecomunicazioni e dei Sistemi Informatici del Governatorato ha realizzato una busta-ricordo, un annullo postale speciale e un folder, in occasione del I° anniversario dell’elezione di Papa Leone XIV.

Con il contributo del Capitolo della Florida dei Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums

Per la rimozione di depositi, il recupero della qualità cromatica e luministica voluta da Michelangelo, il “Giudizio Universale”, conservato nella Cappella Sistina, sarà sottoposto a una manutenzione straordinaria. Per circa tre mesi, il capolavoro di Michelangelo verrà interessato da un intervento di pulitura.

The restoration of tunic, a treasure of the Sancta Sanctorum

A generous new contribution from the Illinois Chapter of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums has permitted the restoration of a tunic of the Sancta Sanctorum, which held the most ‘sacred’ relics of Christianity.

A sign of friendship between the Vatican and Guatemala

Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, President of the Pontifical Commission of Vatican City State and President of the Governorate, has been awarded with the highest national honour of Guatemala, the Order of the Quetzal. The award ceremony was held on Thursday morning, 20 June, in the Palace of the Governorate. Guatemalan Minister, Ambassador Carlos Ramiro Martínez Alvarado, and Alfredo Vásquez Rivera, Ambassador of Guatemala to the Holy See, attended the ceremony as representatives of the Guatemalan government.

Act of Entrustment to Mary

A Korean presence in the Vatican Gardens to implore Mary for universal peace is the hope with which a mosaic of Our Lady of Peace Korean was blessed in the Vatican Gardens. The ceremony took place on Friday afternoon, 20 September, during the liturgical memorial of the Martyrs, Saint Andrew Kim Tae-gon, the first ordained priest of Korea, Saint Paul Chông Hasang and their companions.

God Draws Near and Shares Human Frailty

In places of care, God continues to make Himself present each day through the often hidden service of those who work for the good of others. This was emphasized by Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, President Emeritus of the Governorate of Vatican City State, during the celebration of a Holy Mass in honor of the Christmas season on Saturday afternoon, 20 December, in the Church of Mary, Mother of the Family, at the Governorate.

With friendship and cooperation

He was known to everyone as “Father Fernando”, as he had not yet been created Cardinal. The then Father Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, joined the Directorate of Telecommunications, now known as the Directorate of Telecommunications and Information Systems, as Director in January 2008.

Remembering this bond, the employees and managers of the Directorate wished to greet him, by sharing a Eucharist celebration, on Thursday morning, 27 March, at the Governorate’s Church of Mary, Mother of the Family, presided by the Cardinal.

We are all chosen by God, like Mary

“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.

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.

Like many small flames before the Heart of Mary

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.

A sign of loyalty to the Successor of Peter from Vietnamese Catholics  

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.