This morning, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father Leo XIV received in audience the employees of the Italian Episcopal Conference.

The following is the address delivered by the Pope to those present at the meeting:

Address of the Holy Father

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Peace be with you!

Good morning everyone, and welcome!

I extend my warmest greetings to you, and thank you for the valuable service you carry out for the Italian Episcopal Conference and related bodies. I greet the president, His Eminence Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the secretary general, the directors of the Offices and Services, and every one of you.

Yours is a delicate task, the importance of which is emphasised in the Preamble to the Statutes of the CEI: “The Italian Episcopal Conference” – it states – “is an authentic and authoritative sign of communion among the particular Churches in Italy; it constitutes a legitimate and qualified representation of the People of God living in the country; it promotes the concerted action of the Italian Episcopate, in special harmony with the Successor of Peter, Bishop of Rome and Primate of Italy” (Statute of the Italian Episcopal Conference, Preamble, 3).

Thank you, therefore, for what you do, at every level, from the most visible to the most hidden and everyday tasks. And here I would like to recall how important it is, for every institution, that each person remains faithful to their own task, to the most ordinary duties: a task carried out with care, a well-prepared meeting, the patience to listen attentively for a prolonged period, the dedication in responding to a request, and the very order and care of the surroundings. These are simple things, but they are useful for the good of all and great in the sight of God. In the life of the Church, nothing is small if done with faith, with love and with a spirit of communion.

In light of all this, I would like to pause to reflect with you on some aspects of your work that I consider important.

First of all, its nature as a service. The various offices in which you work are not structures that are an end in themselves, but tools with which you assist the Bishops and the Churches in Italy, so that the threads of communion may be closely woven and the fabric of the Church may be compact, rich in the Gospel and fruitful in gestures of closeness. It is a task of great responsibility: yours, in fact, is a “service to service”, a work that supports other works, a commitment that makes it possible for many people to contribute, a collaboration that helps the local Churches to proclaim the Good News, to walk together and to be a living presence of the Lord, in this country and throughout the world. What you do – even the most technical, administrative or organizational activities – is part of the mission of the one great family of God. Indeed, in the Church, to serve is not simply to perform a function, but to participate actively, as a member, in the life of a body whose head is the Lord. The centre, therefore, is never ourselves, our offices, our programmes, but it is Him, and every activity finds meaning when it helps, even in a humble and hidden way, in the encounter and union with Him.

This brings us to the second point of out reflection, which concerns belonging. Indeed, one cannot serve the Bride of Christ as a spectator, but only with the love of those who know they belong to her, in a bond of faith and communion that is first and foremost a gift of grace, a gift from God. I therefore invite you to live out your daily occupations as part of a mystery, a history and a plan that precede and transcend you (cf. FRANCIS, Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii gaudium, 111). The places where you carry out your daily tasks are the first setting in which you are called to give shape to the Gospel, promoting unity and peace, with patience and humility, through mutual care and support. And this awareness must shape the way you perceive yourselves, speak, listen, correct and support one another, permeating your workplaces and giving rise to truly evangelical ways of life.

I would, however, like to add a final reflection, because service and belonging are inseparable from a third dimension, fundamental to the life of God’s people: mission. The Church exists in order to proclaim Christ, building bridges, forging bonds, offering welcome and help to those who are in need of support, a listening ear, and love, and you share in this mandate.

We live in an age of profound changes, in the family, in schools, in work, in communication, in social participation, and in the transmission of faith, even in Italy. In this context, the Lord asks us not to withdraw into ourselves or to be afraid, but rather to give of ourselves generously so that the Gospel may reach and enlighten every woman and every man today, with all their struggles, questions and hopes (cf. Second Vatican Council, Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes, 1), so that all may “be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim 2:4).

Dear brothers and sisters, thank you for what you do! May the Lord bless you and your work, your families, your loved ones, especially children, the elderly, the sick and those who are going through moments of hardship. We entrust the Italian Episcopal Conference, the Churches in Italy and the journey of all God’s people to the Virgin Mary, Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Catherine of Siena. Thank you!