Pope Leo XIV shared his first meal with the poor of his pontificate on August 17, joining homeless persons, migrants, and families assisted by Caritas of Albano at Castel Gandolfo. As Zenit reported, the Holy Father chose simplicity over protocol, sitting under the shade of the Borgo Laudato Si’ gardens and spending more than an hour listening, laughing, and breaking bread with those in need.
The gathering followed a morning Mass at the Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Rotonda and the Angelus prayer. Yet, as observers noted, it was the shared lunch that gave the day its deepest meaning. Before blessing the food, Pope Leo XIV reminded the group that “to break bread together is to recognize Christ in our midst,” underscoring that the Eucharist continues in everyday communion.
More than one hundred people were present: homeless men and women, migrants, residents of family homes, and volunteers who accompany them daily. Cardinal Fabio Baggio described the event as the living embodiment of Laudato Si’. “This place fulfills the prophetic dream of Pope Francis: a village where Gospel hospitality begins with the poor, reminding us that there is no true ecology without justice, and no justice without fraternity,” he said.
Bishop Vincenzo Viva of Albano welcomed the pope by affirming that no division exists between benefactors and beneficiaries. “At these tables,” he said, “there is only one community of faces, stories, struggles, and hopes.”
Concluding the meal, Pope Leo XIV prayed spontaneously in thanksgiving, then moved from table to table, greeting each guest personally. According to Zenit, the gesture echoed the example of Pope Francis, who, from the first World Day of the Poor in 2017, made it a custom to dine with the marginalized both in Rome and during apostolic journeys.
For many, the setting, gardens once reserved for papal leisure, was secondary to the warmth of being heard by the pope himself. As one volunteer remarked, “It felt less like being hosted at the Vatican and more like being part of a family meal.”
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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