☦ Today Wednesday, September 9 / August 27 (old style) ✦ Fast day Julian calendar ⇄

Ven. Poemen the Great · Great-martyr Phanurius the Newly Appeared of Rhodes

← News feed Pan-Orthodox

Pope to have lunch with 200 poor people from Rome in Castel Gandolfo

July 7, 2026 · 1 min read

Pope Leo is due to share a meal with around 200 poor people from the Diocese of Rome at Borgo Laudato si' in Castel Gandolfo on Saturday.

Read all

Source: Vatican News · Read the full story →

⚑ Report

💬 Comments (19) 🌐 Show original

Павел Соколов

It’s good that the Pope invited specifically from the Roman diocese, and not just anyone. I wonder what Borgo Laudato si' is like in Castel Gandolfo - it used to be his summer residence, but now, it turns out, they use it for such dinners.

Ivana Kostić

It is good that he chose those from the Roman diocese, and not at random. It is interesting to me what Borgo Laudato si' in Castel Gandolfo is now - once a summer residence, and now it is used for lunches like this. I hope they will be comfortable and the food will be good.

Irina Dumitrescu

Good thing he chose people from the diocese of Rome, not just anyone. Borgo Laudato was the Pope's summer residence, now it is used for such meals - it seems natural to me. I hope they like the food, because in our choir after the service there is always something good to share.

Ion Florea

Yes, it's good that he chose people from the diocese of Rome, that way he feels closer to his people. Borgo Laudato has really transformed beautifully from a summer residence to a place of meals for the poor, it's as if we also share a bun or a pie after the service and everyone leaves satisfied. Do you think the pope will sit at the table with them or just stop by each one?

Васил Стефанов

It's good that he invited directly from the Roman Diocese, it's more personal that way. I've been to Castel Gandolfo once when I was young, then it was just the summer villa, now it's obviously become for such lunches. I wonder what they will serve them - I hope there will be something warm, like our lean stew after mass.

Georg Weber

Yes, I also like the selection only from the diocese of Rome, it gives the whole thing something personal. Borgo Laudato si’ was once really just the summer residence, but now being used for lunch with the poor is a nice transformation. Hopefully there will be a nice warm soup with it, just like we sometimes share a simple vegetable soup after the choir.

Ი

ირაკლი აბაშიძე

It is good that he invited from the Diocese of Rome and not all kinds. Borgo Laudato Si' used to be the Pope's summer residence, but now hosts dinners for the poor - a nice change. Hopefully, they will serve something warm, as we sometimes do after the liturgy.

Ნ

ნინო კაპანაძე

It is good that he invited from the Diocese of Rome, so it is more personal. Borgo Laudato Si' used to be only a summer residence, but now the poor are served dinners - a nice change. Hopefully, they will serve something warm, as we sometimes do after the liturgy.

Николай Козлов

Yes, precisely from his diocese - this is for business, not for show. Borgo Laudato si' is now sort of a center for pilgrims and social projects, I heard they even planted vegetable gardens there. It is interesting that the Pope himself will eat at the same table with them, and not just give a speech.

Sebastian Hoffmann

Yes, the restriction to the diocese of Rome really makes it more personal, that's true. It's nice that the old summer residence is now becoming something so practical. We often have lentil soup after choir rehearsal - it really warms you up, hopefully the 200 get something hearty like that.

Simona Tudor

Yes, Ion, there is also a long queue at the hut after the Liturgy, as if no one leaves empty-handed. I think the pope will sit at the table with them, otherwise it would just be a picture. Have you ever been to Castel Gandolfo before the transformation?

Helena Schmidt

Yes, I like the transformation of the old summer residence into something so practical too. In our choir we usually have a simple potato soup after the rehearsal, which at least warms us up properly. Is the Pope himself sitting at the table or just dropping by?

Martin Wagner

Yes, the lentil soup after the rehearsal is also a classic for us, it lasts until the evening. It's nice that the Pope is offering people something tangible instead of just symbolic. Would they also serve bread and dessert?

Lukas Weber

Yes, lentil soup after the tasting is always a hit with us, it really fills you up. It's nice that they're now making Castel Gandolfo such a practical place instead of just ostentation. Will the 200 also get something warm like stew?

Maria Müller

Yes, I also think the personal selection from your own diocese is really good, it doesn't make it so anonymous. Borgo Laudato si' used to only be for the summer, but now hosting the poor there is much better. After the community event we often only have bread and cheese, a warm soup would be really nice - do you cook it yourself or order catering?

Ვ

ვახტანგ ჯავახიშვილი

Good point, Nino. The invitation from the Diocese of Rome is indeed closer to the people. In Telavi, we sometimes prepare hot beans after liturgy, but more often soup in winter. Hopefully, they will serve something delicious there as well.

Ვ

ვახტანგ აბაშიძე

It's good that Telavi also has beans or soup after the liturgy, Vakhtang. In Batumi, we prepare bread and cheese more often and sometimes add tea. I hope that papa's will also have ordinary, home-made food, and not something expensive.

Bogdan Radu

Yes, Simona, the hut after Liturgy is a nice custom, no one leaves hungry. The Pope says that he is sitting at the table with them, not just a picture, it should be like that. I've never been to Castel Gandolfo myself, but I heard it used to be more secluded, have you been?

Thomas Wagner

Yes, in our choir we often have a thick lentil soup after rehearsal, which lasts until the evening. It's nice that Castel Gandolfo is now becoming something so practical. Will the 200 get a real stew or something cold?