Pope Leo XIV hosts lunch for the poor at Castel Gandolfo

On July 11, 2026, Pope Leo XIV invited roughly 200 people facing social vulnerability—including migrants, refugees and about 35 children—to a lunch in the Borgo Laudato Si’ garden of the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, Italy. The gathering was part of the annual “Lunch with the Pope” tradition that began in August 2025 and is organised by the Vatican’s Laudato Si’ Centre for Higher Education together with the Diocese of Rome.

Before the meal, the pontiff delivered a brief address, saying he came “without a prepared speech, but with hunger” – a hunger for justice, authentic charity and a Church that truly opens its doors. He invoked his title as “Pontiff, a builder of bridges” and urged society to eliminate the causes of poverty and injustice, describing the event as a “world of hope” and a sign of solidarity. The day began with Mass celebrated by Cardinal Fabio Baggio and included a guided tour of the gardens before the Pope blessed the food, which featured pasta alla amatriciana, roast veal, chicory and strawberries with cream.