Pope Leo XIV receives Circolo San Pietro in audience

Pope Leo XIV met with members of the Circolo San Pietro in the Vatican Apostolic Palace on October 12, 2026. This meeting marked the first time the Pope received the association in audience.

The Pope thanked the group for its work in Rome since 1869, noting that the association provides daily meals, night shelters for the homeless, and housing for families in difficulty. He described their service as a way for the Church to witness to the Gospel among the poor.

During his address, the Pope linked the association's three pillars of prayer, action, and sacrifice through the concept of charity. He stated that prayer serves as the foundation of charity by establishing the relationship through which members receive the ability to give to others.