From Blessing the Elderly to Calling for Peace: A Pope Who Won’t Clock Out
Pope Leo seems nearly incapable of idleness in the face of pastoral and global needs.
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On Monday, July 21, Pope Leo proved once again that even his vacation can become a mission of service.
In one remarkable day, the Roman pontiff — with what some dub an American work ethic — combined international diplomacy and pastoral charity, emphasizing that leadership and compassion never take a holiday.
This dual episode highlighted his role as both a global peacemaker and a caring pastor, all while he was supposedly “on vacation.”
Morning: A Call for Peace
In the morning, Leo held a telephone conversation with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss the worsening humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and surging violence in the West Bank.
The pope repeated his urgent appeal for international humanitarian law to be fully respected, underscoring the need to protect civilians and holy sites and to refrain from excessive or indiscriminate force.
He firmly rejected any attempts at forced displacement of populations and stressed that humanitarian aid must be allowed unimpeded access to those most in need.
The timing of the call was also symbolic — it coincided with the tenth anniversary of the Comprehensive Agreement between the Holy See and the State of Palestine, the landmark 2015 treaty in which the Vatican officially recognized the Palestinian state for the first time.
By recalling this milestone, Pope Leo subtly reinforced the Vatican’s longstanding commitment to peace and dialogue in the region.
Afternoon: Comforting the Elderly
A few hours later, the pope shifted from diplomacy to tender pastoral care. He paid a private visit to the Santa Marta Home for the Elderly in Castel Gandolfo, the lakeside town where he is spending his summer rest.
There, he was greeted by a community of nuns who run the home and about twenty elderly residents between the ages of 80 and 101.
After pausing in the chapel for prayer, Pope Leo personally visited each resident — listening to their stories, sharing smiles, and offering his blessing.
He then offered a brief reflection on the previous day’s Gospel, noting that in each person there is both a “Martha” and a “Mary,” and that this late stage of life is a precious time to embrace the contemplative spirit of prayer:
“Prayer is so important, far greater than we can imagine. Age doesn’t matter. Jesus invites us to be his witnesses, whether young or not-so-young.”
He praised the elderly sisters and residents as “signs of hope” for the Church and the world, thanking them for all they have given and the faith they continue to live and pass on.
A Roman Pope with an American Work Ethic
This inspiring day is part of what has been a working vacation for Pope Leo.
Despite officially taking time off at Castel Gandolfo, he has maintained a packed schedule of Masses, visits, and diplomatic outreach.
Since the start of his two-week summer break on July 6, the pope has engaged in roughly eight public engagements or official acts, including celebrating special Masses, visiting a monastery and a youth group, meeting an ecumenical delegation, and even phone calls with both Israeli and Palestinian leaders.
Pope Leo seems nearly incapable of idleness in the face of pastoral and global needs.
His Italian vacation has been anything but restful, underscoring his deep commitment to being present wherever there is need.
Pope Leo’s blend of tireless work and heartfelt outreach sends a clear message: even in an era of global conflicts and personal challenges, the Church — led by a pope who leads by example — is always on duty to accompany, console, and sow hope.
In the span of a single day, the pope showed the world that compassion and responsibility never go on holiday, embodying a truly pastoral heart that works around the clock, vacation or not.
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Paid subscriptions start at only $6.67 per month and will get you full access to the ongoing Fath and the Democratic Party essays and this multi-part series on the life and formation of Pope Leo. The third part of that series was released yesterday.
I love reading what His Holiness is doing each day. His energy seems inexhaustible.
Thank you for sharing with all of us. My prayer is that faith leaders all over the world (especially in the U.S.)will follow Pope Leo’s lead. Remembering that we should love one another.