Pope makes his first parish visit

Banner reads 'Young Hearts Hope' - Pope Leo meets with children and young people of Ostia - Image Vatican Media

Source: Vatican Media

Pope Leo - who is also the Bishop of Rome, with 336 parishes - made his first parish visit yesterday to the church of St Mary Queen of Peace in the ancient seaside of Ostia at the month of the River Tiber. Throughout Lent he will visit four more parishes.

The Holy Father arrived around 3.45pm. He was greeted by a large crowd and officially welcomed by Cardinal Vicar Baldo Reina and the parish priest, Fr Giovanni Patané.

"This is my first visit to a parish in my new diocese. I am very happy to begin here, in Ostia-especially in a parish dedicated to Saint Mary, Queen of Peace, a title so meaningful in the times we are living", he said.

The area that formed the backdrop to the papal visit is often in the headlines for crime and violence-one that "exists and wounds," as the Pope said in his homily during Mass at the parish. This violence sometimes spreads among young people, "perhaps fueled by substance use," or is driven by criminal organisations that exploit individuals, draw them into crime, and pursue "unjust interests through illegal and immoral means."

For this reason, Pope Leo encouraged everyone to look upward in hope, but also downward-into the fabric of society-to foster pastoral and educational action that promotes respect, harmony, perseverance, and "the disarming power of meekness" against a "culture of abuse and injustice."

The Pope's words were addressed to a diverse crowd: children and young people, families and migrants, the poor and the sick, priests, religious sisters, volunteers, pastoral workers, and representatives of civil institutions. They had gathered hours earlier at different places for the visit-sports field, gymnasium, parish halls, and church.

Pope Leo stopped and took a few moments with them, blessing children, leaning forward to greet those in wheelchairs, joking with couples and young people. To the different groups, he invited them to pray the Hail Mary and the Our Father.

The first group, gathered in the courtyard, consisted of the children and young people from catechism classes, the youth centre, the Renewal in the Spirit, the Neocatechumenal Way, and Scout Europa, who present him with the typical 'scarf.'

From a small platform, the Pope replied: "The pastor says I should give a word of hope: you are that hope! You must recognize that in your hearts, in your lives, in your youth, there is hope-for today and for tomorrow."

He reaffirmed his joy at being present and at the opportunity to preside over Mass, "where we renew our faith in Christ." "Jesus is alive with us and gives us this hope of living in peace, love, and friendship," he continued, offering peace as his wish for all: "May there be peace in our families…may the Lord bless all our families…and may peace truly reign among us.

The papal visit continued in the nearby gymnasium, where a local basketball association welcomed him. The Pope greeted them, signed a ball and jerseys, and stopped to meet the sick seated in the front rows. One woman proudly noted that she had now greeted four Popes.

Pope Leo described how welcome he felt with the community there: "This is a sign of an authentic Christian community… where we all learn to say 'Welcome.' Not just as a word, but as a spirit-opening the door to everyone."

Speaking of sports, and referencing the Milan-Cortina Olympics, he added: "Sport teaches us to be brothers and sisters, to set aside differences and say: we all want to work as a team."

During Mass, in the parish which will soon celebrate its centenary, the Pope spoke of fidelity to God rooted in respect and care for others in their inviolable dignity-first cultivated in the heart.

"When we judge or despise others," the Pope said, "let us remember that the evil we see in the world has its roots there-where the heart becomes cold, hardened, and poor in mercy."

Pope Leo acknowledged that Ostia experiences this reality: violence spreads among youth, fuelled by drug trafficking or criminal networks. In response, he urged the community to act "with generosity and courage," sowing the seed of the Gospel in streets and homes.

He urged them to not be resigned to "a culture of abuse and injustice." Rather, the Pope said, "spread respect and harmony, beginning by disarming your language and investing energy and resources in education, especially of the young."

The parish, he said, can be a school of honesty, welcome, and love-"a love that goes beyond boundaries." Even those enslaved by evil, he added, may encounter "the God of love, the only One who frees the heart and makes us truly happy" through the faithful.

Continuing his homily, Pope Leo recalled that the parish was established by Pope Benedict XV during the First World War as "a ray of light in the leaden sky of war." Yet, he noted how today, too, many clouds darken the world, as ideologies contrary to the Gospel exalt the supremacy of the strong and promote victory at any cost.

"Let us oppose this drift with the disarming power of meekness, continuing to ask for peace and to welcome and cultivate its gift with perseverance and humility", he encouraged everyone present.

Before Mass, the Pope met with the Parish Pastoral Council-a practice he held during his parish visits in Peru. He stressed the importance of prayer and lived faith, warning that without being a true community of disciples, activities risk becoming empty.

He stressed that "the parish must be a place where people can come and be heard…Do not stay inside and say, 'Those who come are enough.' It is never enough. Invite, welcome, accompany."

With that call to go out and walk together, Pope Leo concluded a visit marked by warmth, realism, and a firm appeal: Ostia must not surrender to injustice. Its hope is alive-above all, in its young people.