On Monday, October 12, 2026, Pope Leo XIV met with members of the Circolo di San Pietro (Circle of Saint Peter), a historic lay Catholic association founded in 1869 to serve Rome’s most vulnerable populations. Speaking to the group just ahead of his scheduled admission to Gemelli Hospital for lung surgery, the Holy Father commended their long-standing dedication to feeding the hungry, caring for the homeless, and supporting struggling families, describing their silent service as a reflection of the Church’s most beautiful face.
In his address, Pope Leo emphasized that true Christian charity stems directly from an active relationship with God through prayer. Reminding the assembly that “one cannot give what one has not received,” he explained that prayer serves as the spiritual foundation where believers receive divine love to share with others. He added that charity driven by the Holy Spirit transforms into a life-changing commitment to active service, urging that this love become the primary goal and guiding style of Christian life.
The Pope also touched upon the necessity of personal sacrifice in serving the poor, noting that offering time, enthusiasm, and energy to those in need unites volunteers with the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. By giving of themselves, he remarked, servants of charity participate directly in Christ’s mission and allow His spirit to live through them.
Concluding the audience, the Holy Father expressed his gratitude to the members for their annual Peter’s Pence collection presented to the Holy See. He highlighted that these traditional offerings not only express fidelity to the Successor of Peter, but also provide critical support for the Pope’s ongoing pastoral outreach and the broader global mission of the universal Church.