For his fourth pastoral visit to the Diocese of Rome, Pope Leo XIV traveled to the parish of Saint Mary of the Presentation, which is located in the neighborhood of Torrevechia.
There, he celebrated Mass for the Third Sunday of Lent. And during his homily, he shared a reflection on the Mass readings for the day:
POPE LEO XIV
The Samaritan woman’s thirst for life and love is our thirst: that of the Church and of all humanity, wounded by sin but even more deeply inhabited by the desire for God.
Upon his arrival, the pope was welcomed by the Cardinal Vicar of Rome, Baldassare Reina, and the parish priest, Paolo Stacchiotti. He also had the opportunity to meet children, young people, people with disabilities, the sick, and men of the families who are members of the parish.
Returning to the subject of the Samaritan woman from the day's Gospel reading, Pope Leo XIV's homily included a further point of reflection about the promise Christ makes to her, and to each person:
POPE LEO XIV
Jesus’ initiative thus opens the search for a good greater than water itself: ‘If you knew the gift of God,’ the Lord tells the woman. It is not a reproach, but a promise: ‘I am here to reveal to you God, who gives himself as a gift to you.’
Located on the outskirts of the Italian capital, the community of Torrevechia welcomed Pope Leo XIV during the tenth month of his role, not only as pope, but also as the Bishop of Rome. His fifth and final pastoral visit will be the parish of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus at Ponte Mammolo on March 15.
