All ready for the lunch of Pope Leo XIV with the poor of Albano

The director of Cáritas Diocesana and the rector of the sanctuary of Santa Maria Della Rotonda in Albano, spoke about the activities of Pope Leo XIV this Sunday, August 17 in the town, when he will celebrate the Mass and have lunch with a group of people in need.

The Pope returned, in the Tarde of August 13th, in Castel Gandolfoto what has been his residence last July during his holiday break.

After the Mass and praying the Angelus in the Plaza de la Libertad at noon, the Pope will share a lunch with 100 people with low resources in the Burgundy Laudato if ‘, an ecological and social project inspired by the encyclical of Pope Francis.

Alessio Rossi, director of Cáritas Diocesana in Albano, explained the details of lunch:

“The menu has just arrived. Lasagna of vegetables, eggplant, roasted veal with wild herbs, fruit of fruits and, of dessert, a typical sweet of our region will be served. All this will be preceded by a snack in the gardens,” he told Vatican News This Saturday.

After Leo XIV’s first visit to Albano, Rossi informed the local bishop, Mons. Vincenzo Viva, his intention to organize a meeting between the Pope and the poor. “The bishop asked the pontiff to be available and told us that the Pope was very happy to meet us,” he explained.

“For us it was a great joy. Our organizational machinery, with all Caritas operators, immediately launched enthusiastically,” he added.

The low -income people who will eat with the Pope are part of the host house PIZZARDO CARDINALbedroom people Francesco For men and parents separate from social housing and guests from the host house Don Orione di Anzioin addition to other care centers.

“Our diocese is very large, begins in Ciampino and ends in Nettuno. Therefore, different types of poverty are found,” Rossi said. “Here there are many homeless people, Italian and foreign, who need showers, be able to shave, laundry service and night accommodation,” he said.

An opportunity to reinforce devotion to the Blessed Virgin

Fr. Adriano Gibellini explained in an interview With the Vatican media that the sanctuary began to be a reference point for Christians approximately in the seventh century. He pointed out that the Albanians have always been devotees of a painting of Mother God brought from Greece and placed in the temple.

In the nineteenth century, when the area was affected by an earthquake, several storms and an epidemic, “this Virgin became the center of prayer of all Albanians,” said the priest.

“In 1867, the bishop of Albanian, the servant of Dios Cardenal Alfieri, made solemn vote that, if the city was fought from the plague, its intercession would be held every first Sunday of August. And so it was: in a week, cholera ceased, but unfortunately it was called to heaven with the plague,” said P. Gibellini.

Since then, in the sanctuary the intercession of the Virgin is fervently requested, especially in difficult times. With the visit of Pope León, says the rector, “we want to renew our devotion to her, who has protected us and, above all, has always given us that hope in our hearts that assures us that the Lord will not abandon us.”

With the presence of the Holy Father, the sanctuary also wishes to express the concern of the Church “for the lonely and the poor”, in addition to asking for their blessing for all the faithful who have frequented the place for years and today they are suffering from some disease.

In that sense, Fr. Gibellini says that the Church is called to be “mother and teacher”, attending to the needs of her children, especially those most vulnerable.

“And especially for those who are alone and abandoned, the belly of the Church undoubtedly becomes that maternal belly that welcomes and cares for them,” he said.