Before various civil and military officials, Pope Leo XIV emphasized the spiritual and social dimensions of his episcopal mission, before taking possession of St. John Lateran.
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“Today I can say that through you and with you, I am Roman.” With these words, Pope Leo XIV addressed the mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri, who greeted him just minutes before he made his way to the Basilica of St. John Lateran to take possession of his chair as Bishop of Rome.
The armored Volkswagen SUV transporting the Pope departed from the Vatican around 4:00 p.m. and headed for the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the cathedral of Rome, where he was scheduled to be installed as Bishop of Rome after celebrating Mass at 5 p.m.
Before arriving at the basilica — the first major Christian house of worship built in Rome after Emperor Constantine legalized religious freedom in A.D. 313 — the official vehicle stopped at Piazza dell’Aracoeli at the foot of the Capitoline Hill steps, where the main entrance to the Palazzo Senatorio, the seat of Rome’s municipal government, is located. There, Gualtieri welcomed the Pope.
“Shortly after the election,” Leo XIV recalled, “I told the brothers and sisters gathered in St. Peter’s Square that I am with them a Christian and for them a bishop; today, in a special way, I can say that through you and with you, I am Roman,” he said, drawing a great ovation from those present.
Before various civil and military officials, Pope Leo XIV emphasized the spiritual and social dimensions of his episcopal mission: “As I officially begin my ministry as shepherd of this diocese, I feel the serious yet passionate responsibility to serve all its members, with the faith of the people of God and the common good of society foremost in my heart.”
He also stressed his commitment to collaboration with local administrative institutions: “We are collaborators, each within our own institutional sphere.”
Pope Leo XIV spoke of the historic mission of the Catholic Church in the Italian capital and highlighted how, for two millennia, the Church has lived out its apostolic mission in Rome “by proclaiming the Gospel of Christ and committing itself to charity.”
“Educating the young, helping those who suffer, caring for the marginalized, and nurturing the arts are expressions of our commitment to human dignity — one we must uphold at all times, especially toward the little ones, the weak, and the poor,” he added.
Speaking about the Jubilee of Hope inaugurated by his predecessor Pope Francis, Pope Leo voiced his gratitude for “the commitment of the city administration, for which I express my heartfelt thanks.”
Finally, before giving the apostolic blessing to those present, Pope Leo XIV shared his hope that Rome — “unparalleled in the richness of its historical and artistic heritage” — may always also be distinguished by “those values of humanity and civilization that draw their life force from the Gospel.”
Walking Together Toward a More Just, Sustainable City
Before Pope Leo spoke, the mayor thanked him for renewing the tradition of the meeting at Piazza dell’Aracoeli, saying the gesture was yet another sign of the Holy Father’s “affection” for the Italian capital. Gualtieri described it as “a reaffirmation of the deep bond between Rome and the universal dimension of the Church.”
The last pope to take part in this greeting was Paul VI, who met with the then-Mayor Glauco Della Porta. In 1978, the gesture was meant to be repeated, but John Paul I died a month after his election and never made the official visit to Rome’s city hall.
Gualtieri emphasized that this bond has nourished the city for centuries with “culture, ethical values, and shared responsibility, especially in building peace — the highest calling of Rome.” He expressed gratitude for Pope Leo XIV’s first words calling for an end to war across the world.
Gualtieri also highlighted the Jubilee of Hope as an opportunity to transform the city and said Rome was especially preparing to welcome thousands of young people for the upcoming Youth Jubilee. Rome, he said, is committed to “being a more just, sustainable, and inclusive city, with special attention to the peripheries and the most vulnerable.”
Acknowledging “the value of collaboration with the Church,” particularly with local parish projects aimed at dignifying the lives of all citizens, including migrants and the poor, the mayor expressed his hope for the city and the pope to work together for “a new politics, new relationships between peoples, and a more humane social model.”
Finally, Gualtieri declared: “We are happy that Rome is now your city,” and he assured the Pope that the capital will be “a loyal ally in your pastoral mission.”
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This article was originally published on National Catholic Register.
