Pope Leo XIV visited the residence for the elderly “Santa Marta” on Monday morning in Castel Gandolfo, the Italian town where his holiday period passes.
As reported by the press office of the Holy See, the Pontiff arrived at the residence at 10:30 in the morning (local time), where it was received by the community of religious who manage the place.
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The Congregation of the “Sisters of Santa Marta” was founded in 1946 by Blessed Tommaso Regio. The mission of this nursing home is not only to offer assistance, but to pay “the maximum attention to the quality of the relationships and well -being of their residents,” as they detail in their website.
In this context, the sisters intend to be as “humble presences of peace and hope” for the most needy.
After stopping in prayer in the chapel, the Holy Father personally greeted about 20 elders, all of them between 80 and 101 years.
He also greeted a young nurse and, after having prayed together with some songs, the Pope directed a few words to all, underlining some songs of the songs and taking up the Gospel read yesterday during the Mass.
The Pope highlighted how in each of the people there is a part of Marta and one of Mary, and invited to take advantage of this time of life to live the dimension of Mary: listen to the word of Jesus and pray.
Later, the Pontiff underlined the relevance of prayer, “so important, much bigger than we can imagine,” and told the elders that “age does not matter: it is Jesus who wants to approach us, host is made for us, invites us to be witnesses, young or not so young.”
“You are signs of hope,” he added, “have given a lot in life” and “they continue to be that testimony of prayer, of faith”, a family that offers the Lord what he has.
After praying the Our Father, Pope Leo XIV remained a while visiting the residence and returned to Villa Barberini shortly before 11:30.
Almudena Martínez-Bordiú
Graduated in journalism and advertising from the CEU San Pablo University of Madrid. Specialized in religious information in Spain since 2015. It has been a senior correspondent for ACI Press and Ewtn News at the Vatican for two years and is currently a correspondent for Europe based on Spain.