Per la prima volta, in quasi novanta anni dalla loro costruzione, le cupole astronomiche del Palazzo Pontificio di Castel Gandolfo aprono le porte ai visitatori. Si tratta di due osservatori astronomici perfettamente funzionanti della Specola Vaticana: la “cupola maggiore” dal diametro di 8,5 metri, dotata di Telescopio Visuale, per l’osservazione delle stelle e dei pianeti; e la “cupola minore”, dal diametro di 8 metri, con il Doppio Astrografo,utilizzato per i rilievi fotografici del cielo e della posizione degli astri.

The Holy Mass, celebrated on Thursday morning, May 22, in the Vatican City industrial area, was an invitation to hope and to express heartfelt thanks for the immense work, successfully concluded, after the passing of Pope Francis, the subsequent Conclave and the election of Pope Leo XIV. These were addressed by Archbishop Emilio Nappa, Secretary General of the Governorate of the Vatican City State, to the entire staff of employees, technicians and workers of the Vatican Directorate of Infrastructure and Services.

“Tonight too, we are gathered in prayer for the Holy Father and his intentions, in particular for peace and good in the world and for the sanctification of the Church”, said Archbishop Emilio Nappa, Secretary General of the Governorate of Vatican City State, as he presided over the Rosary for Pope Francis in Saint Peter’s Square, on Saturday morning, 15 March.

Kindness, harmony, simplicity 

Kindness, harmony, simplicity: three qualities to adopt according to Archbishop Emilio Nappa, Secretary General of the Governorate of the Vatican City State in his homily for the Holy Mass, celebrated at the Altar of the Chair of St. Peter's Basilica on Wednesday morning, April 16, for the employees of the Governorate and the Holy See in preparation for Easter.

Archbishop Emilio Nappa, Secretary General of the Governorate of Vatican City State, presided over Holy Mass in memory of the faithful departed of the Directorate of Infrastructure and Services. The rite was celebrated on Monday morning, 10 November, in the Chapel of Saint Egidio, located within the premises of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary.

Reflecting the Light of the One Who Gives

Storing up treasures in heaven — that is, by giving — in such a way as to reflect light and not the darkness that saddens.
This was the message of Archbishop Emilio Nappa, Secretary General, as he presided over the Eucharistic concelebration on the morning of Friday, June 20, at the Pontifical Parish of Saint Thomas of Villanova in Castel Gandolfo.

In Mary is our destiny

“When in this life we ‘choose life’ (cf. Dt 30:19), then in Mary, assumed into Heaven, we have reason to see our destiny. She is given to us as the sign that the Resurrection of Jesus was not an isolated event, an exception. All of us, in Christ, can swallow up death (cf. 1 Cor 15:54).” Thus spoke Pope Leo XIV during the concelebrated Eucharist in the Pontifical Parish of St. Thomas of Villanova (Castel Gandolfo) on Friday morning, August 15, on the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Leadership Oriented Toward Supporting Integral Human Development

Five significant dimensions of “women in Christian religious life today” — presence, formation, diversity, complexity, and service — were illustrated by Sr. Raffaella Petrini, President of the Governorate of the Vatican City State, during a lecture at the Dominican Philosophical Institute of Bologna on Friday morning, October 24.

A Series of Lectures on Vatican City State Law

A series of lectures on Vatican City State Law, promoted by the Pontifical Lateran University’s Faculty of Civil Law and coordinated by Professor Carni, is scheduled to begin on 24 February. During the course, several law professors and legal experts will deliver lectures. Professor Carni will deliver the first lecture, which will be an introduction to the history of Vatican Law.

A service for the good of the Church

A service carried out above all “behind the scenes,” and a task that “builds security, order, respect,” considering that “it is not just a profession: it is a service for the good of the Church.” Thus spoke Pope Leo XIV, addressing the members of the Vatican City State Gendarmerie Corps during the Eucharistic Concelebration, presided at the Grotto of Lourdes in the Vatican Gardens on Sunday afternoon, October 5, on the feast of their Patron, Saint Michael the Archangel.

A prayer for the sick and those who care for them

“Today, on this day dedicated to the sick, we wish to pray in communion with all those who suffer throughout the world. We pray for you. I sincerely thank you for making the effort to come and to accompany us in this moment of prayer, here before our Mother Mary, on her liturgical memorial, Our Lady of Lourdes.” These were the words of Pope Leo XIV, spoken in front of the Grotto of Lourdes in the Vatican Gardens on Wednesday morning, 11 February, after the General Audience.

From February 23 to May 27, the Pontifical Lateran University will host the course entitled “Law of the Vatican City State,” coordinated by Matteo Carnì, Visiting Professor at the Faculty of Civil Law of the same University.

For the first time, the Band of the Gendarmerie Corps and the Band of the Pontifical Swiss Guard will perform together. The wind and percussion ensemble will take place in the courtyard of the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo on Monday, September 29, at 8:00 p.m., on the feast of the Patron Saint of Vatican City State, Saint Michael the Archangel.

“The Barberini Tapestry Workshop – The Resurrection and the Dedication of St. Peter’s Basilica” is the theme of the exhibition inaugurated on Monday afternoon, March 30, in the Conference Hall of the Vatican Museums.

Il programma “Conversione Ecologica 2035”, avviato nel 2022 e finalizzato alla riduzione a 0 delle emissioni di CO2, raggiunge un altro importante obiettivo:

Un ulteriore obiettivo del programma “Conversione Ecologica 2035”, avviato nel 2022 e finalizzato alla riduzione a 0 delle emissioni di CO2, è stato raggiunto: è ora attivo il servizio di ricarica dei veicoli elettrici dello Stato.

Il 20 dicembre 2024, sono stati inaugurati, nel parcheggio del Petriano in Vaticano, 20 punti di ricarica “veloci”, su 10 colonnine, e 2 punti di ricarica “ultra fast”, su una ulteriore colonnina.

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.