(ANS – Castel Gandolfo) – Yesterday, Sunday, July 13, 2025, the parish of San Tommaso da Villanova in Castel Gandolfo experienced a historic moment with the celebration of Holy Mass presided over by Pope Leo XIV. After 13 years since the last visit of a Pontiff, the day filled the entire parish community—entrusted to the pastoral care of the Salesians of Don Bosco—with joy and emotion.

At the Eucharistic celebration were present Cardinal Michael Czerny, Prefect of the Dicastery for Integral Human Development, Bishop Vincenzo Viva of Albano, the Rector Major, Fr. Fabio Attard, his Vicar, Fr. Stefano Martoglio, the parish priest, Fr. Tadeusz Rozmus, the Salesians involved in the mission, the youth of the Salesian Oratory, the faithful of the community, and numerous civil and religious authorities.

The presence of the Holy Father in this “small pontifical parish,” a treasure trove of spiritual and artistic history designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, was indeed a moment of grace. The visit served as an invitation to rediscover the value of communion and to strengthen solidarity in the hearts of all present.

An Invitation to the “Revolution of Love”

During his homily, Pope Leo offered a profound meditation on the parable of the Good Samaritan, emphasizing the importance of a “gaze” that comes from the heart. He explained how there are different ways of seeing: one that is “distracted and hurried,” another that “pretends not to see,” and then invited everyone to choose the “gaze of the heart,” capable of empathy and compassion. “The first gaze is the one God had towards us,” affirmed the Holy Father, recalling the figure of the Good Samaritan as an image of Jesus Christ, who came to heal humanity’s wounds with the oil of His love and mercy.

The Pontiff issued an appeal for a “revolution of love” in a world often marked by indifference and individualism. He invited everyone to care for those who suffer, without distinctions of nationality, religion, or affiliation. “Healed and loved by Christ, we too become a sign of His love and compassion in the world,” he concluded.

The Gestures of the Holy Father and Salesian Joy

At the conclusion of the celebration, Pope Leo presented the parish priest, Fr. Tadeusz Rozmus, with a paten and chalice, symbols of communion and fraternity. “These liturgical instruments are an invitation to live in communion and to promote the fraternity we find in Jesus Christ,” explained the Pontiff.

A particularly joyful moment was the tribute from the youth of the Salesian Oratory, who gifted the Pope a basketball, joking about a possible game with him, as signs of affection and gratitude.

The Reflections of the Rector Major

After the celebration, the Rector Major, Fr. Fabio Attard, speaking to the confreres at the Salesian Headquarters, shared his reflections of the day. He emphasized that his presence, along with that of his Vicar, Fr. Stefano Martoglio, at Castel Gandolfo for the mass with the Holy Father represented the closeness of the Salesian Congregation to the Pope and the Church.

Fr. Fabio recalled that at the end of the mass, during the singing of the Salve Regina, as he gazed at the statue of Mary Help of Christians, he noticed a significant detail: the Child Jesus in the statue bore the image of the Eucharist on His chest. He interpreted this as a powerful sign that recalls the pillars of Salesian spirituality: devotion to the Pope, to Mary Help of Christians, and to the Eucharist.

In his conversation with Pope Leo, the Rector Major assured the Holy Father of the fidelity, prayers, and support of the Salesian Congregation, as Don Bosco himself would have desired.

Finally, Fr. Fabio shared a thought he had while observing the Holy Father during the celebration of the Mass: “Looking at the Pope, I could perceive the weight of the universal Church and the world that Pope Leo carries as the successor of St. Peter. It is an invitation for us Salesians to renew our fidelity to the Pope and to the Church.”

Concluding his reflection, Fr. Fabio recalled the message of the Good Samaritan shared by the Holy Father: “We are called to see, to stop, and to act with compassion. This symbolizes the essence of a meaningful and compassionate life.”

An unforgettable day for Castel Gandolfo and the Salesians

The visit of Pope Leo XIV to Castel Gandolfo will remain an indelible moment in the memory of the parish community and the Salesian family of Castel Gandolfo. The celebration of the Mass, the moments of prayer and fraternity, and the gestures of affection between the Holy Father and the youth of the Oratory were a unique and grace-filled experience.

For the Salesians, this event represents a call to live Don Bosco’s mission with renewed zeal: to serve the young, the Church, and the world, with their gaze always fixed on Christ, with eyes of mercy and love.