Pope Leo XIV has held his first official meeting since his election with officials of the Roman Curia, employees of the Holy See, the Governorate of Vatican City State, and the Vicariate of Rome.
According to Vatican News, during the meeting the Pope emphasized the importance of faith and prayer, saying, “Faith and prayer are like salt in food: they give it flavor.” He recommended these two “ingredients” as essential for Vatican employees to apply generously in their daily work.
The Pope warmly welcomed those gathered and expressed his joy, saying, “Each one contributes by carrying out their daily tasks with commitment—and also with faith, because faith and prayer are like salt in food: they give it flavor.”
He noted with gladness that many family members were also present, “taking advantage of the fact that today is Saturday.”
Pope Leo described the occasion as “certainly not the time for programmatic speeches,” but rather a moment to express gratitude: “It is an opportunity for me to thank you for the service you carry out, and this service, which I, so to speak, ‘inherit’ from my predecessors.”
He recalled his arrival in Rome just two years ago, when Pope Francis appointed him Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, marking a transition from the Diocese of Chiclayo in Peru. “What a change! And now… what can I say? Only what Simon Peter said to Jesus by the Sea of Tiberias: ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’”
Reflecting on the role of the Curia, the Pope said, “The Curia is the institution that preserves and transmits the historical memory of a Church, of the ministry of its Bishops. This is very important.” He stressed that memory is not just about the past—it nourishes the present and guides the future. “Without memory,” he warned, “the path becomes lost, the journey loses its meaning.”
Working in the Roman Curia, he said, involves helping to keep alive the memory of the Apostolic See so that the ministry of the Pope can be carried out in the best way possible. The same, he noted, applies to the Vatican City State and its services.
Pope Leo also underscored the missionary dimension of the Curia, recalling his own experience as an Augustinian missionary in Peru. “It was among the Peruvian people that my pastoral vocation matured. I can never thank the Lord enough for this gift!”
He described his current role in the Roman Curia as a new mission: “I have shared it with you these past two years. And I continue and will continue it, for as long as God wills, in this service entrusted to me.”
Quoting his first public words on the evening of May 8, the Pope reiterated his vision: “We must seek together how to be a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges, dialogue, always open to welcoming… everyone with open arms—everyone who needs our charity, our presence, dialogue, and love.”
He reminded the audience that this mission is entrusted to Peter and his successors, with all Vatican staff playing a role: “Each one contributes by carrying out their daily tasks with commitment—and also with faith, because faith and prayer are like salt in food: they give it flavor.”
The Pope called for unity and love, urging staff to begin with kindness in the workplace: “Each of us can be a builder of unity through our attitudes toward colleagues,” he said, recommending patience, humility, empathy, and even humor, as taught by Pope Francis.
He concluded by thanking everyone from the heart and encouraging them to invoke the Virgin Mary during the month of May to bless the Roman Curia, Vatican City, and their families—especially children, the elderly, and those suffering. He then invited everyone to pray a Hail Mary together.
