(ANS – Rome) – Barriers now line the courtyard, flags and banners hang from the windows of the Salesian Headquarters, and rows of chairs are being arranged to accommodate the hundreds of faithful expected. The preparations of the Sacred Heart community in Castro Pretorio for the historic visit of Pope Leo XIV are visible in every detail. On the morning of Sunday, February 22, 2026, the Holy Father will make his pastoral visit to the community — the third visit to a Salesian community since his election to the Throne of Peter, following those to Castel Gandolfo and Turkey in July and November, respectively. A momentous occasion is therefore approaching for the Salesian parish, renewing its historic bond with the Bishop of Rome and the local Church.
Beyond the logistical arrangements, a wave of hope and expectation has animated the community for nearly a month, ever since the visit was officially announced. Hope, closeness, emotion, gratitude, grace, and enthusiasm — these are the words most frequently heard among those joyfully awaiting the Pontiff.
“Pope Leo’s visit is a powerful sign of consolation and encouragement for us,” says Patrizia Germiniano, a volunteer at the Pastoral Listening Center. “Every day we meet wounded people, tired families, faces marked by hardship. Knowing that the Holy Father is coming here, to our neighborhood, means that the Church sees and listens alongside us. I hope his presence will renew in all of us the certainty that no one is invisible in the eyes of God.”
“For us catechists, this visit is an immense gift,” adds Giovanna Luchi. “We teach children and young people to love the Pope and to feel that they are a living part of the Church. Now they will be able to see the Successor of Peter in their own parish. It is an occasion to rediscover the beauty of simple faith and to help the little ones understand that the Church is close, tangible, and alive.”
Paolo Maggio, the parish organist, speaks of emotions already taking shape: “I am preparing the music with great excitement. The liturgy always has a special power, but when the Pope presides, it becomes a moment that enters history. I hope every note will help the assembly pray from the heart, and that the music will serve as a bridge between our community and the Holy Father, united in one praise to the Lord.”
Alejandro Rivera, one of the many homeless people in the area — and himself a volunteer at the Pastoral Listening Center — represents the most vulnerable group with whom and for whom the Salesian parish works daily. He too expresses deep emotion: “For me, it is something I never would have imagined: the Pope coming here, where I have found constant help and strength when I had nothing. Today I can also help others who live on the streets. His visit fills me with great joy. I come to Mass every day, and now I feel part of the Church, not on the margins. I hope to greet him and thank him, because when the Church reaches out to the poor, it makes us feel like children, not outcasts.”
“The Sacred Heart community experiences this visit as a time of grace,” comments the Rector of the Basilica, Fr. Francesco Marcoccio. “It confirms our vocation to be a basilica with an open heart, especially toward the most vulnerable. Welcoming the Holy Father means renewing our pastoral and missionary commitment. We hope this day will strengthen communion and ignite in everyone a renewed love for Christ and for the Church.”
His words are echoed by the pastor, Fr. Javier Ortiz, who describes the visit as “a great grace, a gift the Holy Father is giving us. He is coming to us,” he continues, “who are geographically at the center, yet in many ways a periphery. It is beautiful to feel the closeness of our Pastor and the Bishop of Rome. We hope this visit will renew our entire pastoral ministry and help us reach those who are alone — especially the many elderly — and draw closer those who feel distant.”
In a Salesian house, the voice of young people could not be absent. Sara Benatti, active in the parish Youth Center, concludes: “We are full of enthusiasm! For us young people, it is wonderful to know that the Pope is coming right here, to the place where we grow up, pray, and dream about our future. It is as if he were saying to us: ‘The Church is counting on you.’ I hope his visit will give us the courage to live our faith with joy and to be a light among our friends.”
The Pope’s visit to the Sacred Heart community is an event that strengthens Salesian identity and renews the commitment to be an educational and pastoral presence among young people and the most vulnerable in the heart of the city of Rome.
Those unable to attend in person may follow the event via live stream at 8:50 a.m. (UTC+1) on the Vatican News YouTube channel: