Holy Mass at the Chapel of the Carbinieri Station in Castel Gandolfo

On Tuesday, 15 July 2025, the Holy Father celebrated Holy Mass at the Chapel of the Carbinieri Station in Castel Gandolfo. In his homily the Pope reflected on the meaning of the two words "brother" and "sister." He also expressed his “profound gratitude for the noble and demanding service that the Carabinieri render to Italy and its citizens, as well as to the Holy See and the faithful who visit Rome”

Dear brothers and sisters,

The Gospel we have just heard gives us the authentic Christian meaning of these two words. Brother and sister are names of relationship, which we often repeat in the liturgy as a greeting, as signs of closeness and affection. Jesus, the only-begotten Son of God, explains their meaning in relation to himself and his Father, revealing a bond stronger than blood because it involves us all, uniting every man and every woman. Indeed, we are all truly brothers and sisters of Jesus when we do God's will, that is, when we live loving one another, as God has loved us.

Every relationship that God experiences, in himself and for us, thus becomes a gift: when his only Son becomes our brother, his Father becomes our Father, and the Holy Spirit, who unites the Father and the Son, comes to dwell in our hearts. God's love is so great that Jesus does not even keep his own mother for himself, handing Mary over as our mother at the hour of the cross (cf. Jn 19:27). Only those who live with such complete dedication can affirm: "Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, and sister, and mother" ( Mt 12:50). In particular, these words help us understand that Mary becomes the mother of Jesus because she listens to the word of God with love, welcomes it into her heart, and lives it faithfully. Commenting on the Gospel passage just recalled, St. Augustine therefore wrote that "it is more important for Mary to have been a disciple of Christ than to have been the mother of Christ." Indeed, "Mary was blessed because she heard the word of God and put it into practice" ( Sermo 72/A, 7). The meaning of Mary's life is preserved in her faithfulness to the Word received from God: the Word of life welcomed by her, carried in her womb, and given to the world.

Dearest all, the 75th anniversary of the proclamation of the Faithful Virgin, the Virgo fidelis , as Patroness of the Carabinieri was recently celebrated . It was from Castel Gandolfo, in 1949, that my venerated predecessor , Pope Pius XII, accepted this beautiful proposal from the General Command of the Carabinieri. After the tragedy of the war, in a period of moral and material reconstruction, Mary's fidelity to God thus became a model for the fidelity of every Carabiniere to their homeland and the Italian people. This virtue expresses the dedication, purity, and constancy of commitment to the common good, which the Carabinieri protect by ensuring public safety and defending the rights of all, especially those in danger.

I therefore express profound gratitude for the noble and demanding service that the Carabinieri render to Italy and its citizens, as well as to the Holy See and the faithful who visit Rome: I think especially of the many pilgrims of this Jubilee Year.

Devotion to the faithful Virgin also reflects the Carabinieri motto, " Faithful Through the Centuries ," expressing the sense of duty and the self-sacrifice of every member of the force. I therefore thank the authorities present, both civilian and military, for what you do in fulfilling your duties: in the face of injustices that undermine the social order, do not give in to the temptation to think that evil can prevail. Especially in this time of war and violence, remain faithful to your oath: as servants of the State, respond to crime with the force of law and honesty. Thus, the Carabinieri, the Benemerita, will always earn the esteem of the Italian people.

In this Eucharist, as we celebrate the passion, death, and resurrection of the Lord, it is right and proper to remember the Carabinieri who gave their lives in the line of duty. I entrust to you, as an example, the Venerable Salvo D'Acquisto, recipient of the Gold Medal for Military Valor, whose cause for beatification is underway. In every mission, may the Virgo fidelis accompany you, lovingly watching over each of you, your families, and your work.

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