Lunch with the Pope – People Experiencing Vulnerability from the Diocese of Rome at Table with Leo XIV
On 11 July, around 200 people experiencing social vulnerability, accompanied by the Diocese of Rome and by various Church and community organizations, took part in the initiative “Lunch with the Pope.”
The day offered moments of welcome, fraternity, and sharing, and included the celebration of the Eucharist with the Liturgy of the Custody of Creation, a guided tour exploring Borgo Laudato si’, and a shared lunch with Pope Leo XIV.
The initiative grew out of the experience of , when the Holy Father had lunch with people experiencing poverty from the Diocese of Albano. That experience gave rise to an annual event promoted by the Laudato si’ Higher Education and Training Centre, with the aim of offering people in vulnerable situations a day of encounter, beauty, and closeness.
This year’s edition was made possible through the collaboration of the Laudato si’ Higher Education and Training Centre, the Dicastery for the Service of Charity, and the Diocese of Rome, with the involvement of parishes, Caritas, and numerous Church and community organizations that work every day alongside people experiencing vulnerability.
The presence of Pope Leo XIV highlighted the Church’s attention to those who are most vulnerable and reaffirmed the value of closeness, welcome, and sharing. The gathering also showed how Borgo Laudato si’ has established itself as a place where care for creation, care for the human person, and the promotion of human dignity are translated into concrete experiences of encounter, participation, and faith.
Special thanks were extended to the Church and community organizations that accompanied the participants, including ACSE, ACLI di Roma, Associazione Tabor International, Basilica of Santa Sofia, Caritas of the Diocese of Rome, Centro Astalli, Community of Sant’Egidio, Percorsi di Cittadinanza Social Cooperative, Santa Marta Pediatric Dispensary, Vincentian Family, Le Opere del Padre, Contemplative Missionaries of Mother Teresa, as well as various parishes and communities of the Diocese of Rome.
Finally, the Laudato si’ Higher Education and Training Centre, the Dicastery for the Service of Charity, and the Diocese of Rome expressed their heartfelt gratitude to L’Isola della Pizza Restaurant in Rome, which generously provided the lunch, and to Bar Al Duomo in Albano Laziale, which provided the welcome breakfast.
Address by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV
Address by His Eminence Cardinal Fabio Baggio
Address by His Eminence Cardinal Baldassare Reina
Address by His Excellency Monsignor Luis Marín de San Martín