James O'Reilly
It was the first stop on the pope's jam-packed, one-day trip to Naples and Pompeii. At about 9:00am, Leo XIV headed to what is known as the 'Temple of Charity' at the Shrine of Pompeii, where he was welcomed by a group of vulnerable people and their families.
POPE LEO XIV
And to you children, youth, and young people, I recommend that you place your trust in those who lovingly care for your growth, and even more — always throughout your life — trust in Jesus, the Son of God, crucified and risen, who saves and frees us, the Friend who never abandons or rejects us.
On October 19, 2025, the Pope canonized St. Bartolo Longo, whose life was closely linked to Pomepii. It was here he carried out his religious and charitable mission, always promoting devotion to Our Lady of the Rosary.
POPE LEO XIV
When Saint Bartolo first arrived in the Valley of Pompeii, he found a land afflicted by great poverty, inhabited by only a few very poor farmers, plagued by malaria and by bandits. Yet he was able to see the face of Christ in everyone: in the great and the small alike, and especially in orphans and the children of prisoners, whom he made feel, through his tenderness, the beating of God’s heart.
On the day marking the first anniversary of his election as pontiff, he greeted the faithful present amid cheers and applause. Afterwards, he went on to celebrate Holy Mass in the square named after Saint Bartolo Longo.
