At 11:55am this morning (5:55am EST) in the Clementine Hall at the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father, Pope Francis received in audience the Managers and personnel from the Public Security Inspectors who work at the Vatican.
Mister Chief of Police,
Mister Prefect and Mister Manager,
Dear Employees and Agents!
This meeting is always a welcome occasion at the beginning of the year, a time to gather with you, representatives of the Inspectorate of Public Security at the Vatican. I welcome you with affection and respect, and I renew to all of you my deep gratitude for the commendable service you provide daily to the Apostolic See and to Vatican City. I thank the Chief of Police for the kind words he addressed to me on your behalf; I welcome and congratulate the Prefect Felice Colombrino and the Manager Luigi Carnevale, who have recently taken up their duties. I greet each of you and offer sincere wishes for a new year full of human and Christian values that make life beautiful and fruitful.
The festivities of Christmas and the Epiphany, which we have just celebrated, have given us the opportunity to meditate once again on the event of the birth and manifestation of Christ on earth. His coming among us reveals to us the unthinkable closeness of God to man and the immense love He has for us. His presence gives meaning to our life and awakens us to hope, helping us to raise our gaze beyond the difficulties and problems of every day. At the same time, it leads us to charity, to live our relationships with a fraternal and merciful attitude, especially with those who suffer from sickness, abandonment and marginalization.
The attitude of proximity to people is also typical of your work, and you have the opportunity to witness it every day. By means of your vocation, you are specialists. Thanks to your precious work of surveillance and public order, pilgrims and tourists - each with their own history - who come to Saint Peter's Basilica from all over the world, are facilitated in their visit. Your competence and wisdom in dealing with different situations are well known, even in the most critical situations; on this basis too I want to thank you. Thank you so much for your professionalism and your generosity! I urge you to persevere and seek the best in your operational style, striving to welcome everyone with much patience and understanding, even in those moments when you feel tiredness or the weight of unpleasant situations.
Your daily service is designed to protect Saint Peter's Square and the Vatican property day and night; you are on the spot in all weather conditions, favourable or adverse. When I think of your availability and your spirit of sacrifice, I admire and edify you, and I also feel a bit of shame when I think of many people who say they are Christian and who do not live up to your example. Also, cannot forget your effective collaboration in my pastoral visits to the parishes and other communities of Rome, as well as during my travels to other Italian locations. I am very grateful for all this.
The Chief of Police also spoke of the sense of belonging: there is the danger of losing yourself in this society. You guard the Square, you keep me safe during my travels, you keep a lot of things, but I will ask you a favour: try to preserve the cultural roots of the city, of the country, of culture. This civilization has the danger of becoming uprooted, and we know that without roots we do not grow, and what the tree has of flower, comes from what it has buried (cf F.L. Bernardez, Para recobrar). And strive for this: to keep your roots, because the roots are what give us identity. Our identity is that of today, but it comes from the roots, and will be transmitted to our children, our grandchildren, always from the roots. Thank you for doing this.
Dear friends, I entrust each of you to the maternal intercession of Mary Most Holy. You are always close to your work and support your families, to whom I address a special thought. I ask you to please pray for me; I wish you a happy new year and I cordially impart my Apostolic Blessing to you and to those who are dear to you.
Thank you!
(Original text in Italian)
Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
offered to Public Security Inspectors
Mister Chief of Police,
Mister Prefect and Mister Manager,
Dear Employees and Agents!
This meeting is always a welcome occasion at the beginning of the year, a time to gather with you, representatives of the Inspectorate of Public Security at the Vatican. I welcome you with affection and respect, and I renew to all of you my deep gratitude for the commendable service you provide daily to the Apostolic See and to Vatican City. I thank the Chief of Police for the kind words he addressed to me on your behalf; I welcome and congratulate the Prefect Felice Colombrino and the Manager Luigi Carnevale, who have recently taken up their duties. I greet each of you and offer sincere wishes for a new year full of human and Christian values that make life beautiful and fruitful.
The festivities of Christmas and the Epiphany, which we have just celebrated, have given us the opportunity to meditate once again on the event of the birth and manifestation of Christ on earth. His coming among us reveals to us the unthinkable closeness of God to man and the immense love He has for us. His presence gives meaning to our life and awakens us to hope, helping us to raise our gaze beyond the difficulties and problems of every day. At the same time, it leads us to charity, to live our relationships with a fraternal and merciful attitude, especially with those who suffer from sickness, abandonment and marginalization.
The attitude of proximity to people is also typical of your work, and you have the opportunity to witness it every day. By means of your vocation, you are specialists. Thanks to your precious work of surveillance and public order, pilgrims and tourists - each with their own history - who come to Saint Peter's Basilica from all over the world, are facilitated in their visit. Your competence and wisdom in dealing with different situations are well known, even in the most critical situations; on this basis too I want to thank you. Thank you so much for your professionalism and your generosity! I urge you to persevere and seek the best in your operational style, striving to welcome everyone with much patience and understanding, even in those moments when you feel tiredness or the weight of unpleasant situations.
Your daily service is designed to protect Saint Peter's Square and the Vatican property day and night; you are on the spot in all weather conditions, favourable or adverse. When I think of your availability and your spirit of sacrifice, I admire and edify you, and I also feel a bit of shame when I think of many people who say they are Christian and who do not live up to your example. Also, cannot forget your effective collaboration in my pastoral visits to the parishes and other communities of Rome, as well as during my travels to other Italian locations. I am very grateful for all this.
The Chief of Police also spoke of the sense of belonging: there is the danger of losing yourself in this society. You guard the Square, you keep me safe during my travels, you keep a lot of things, but I will ask you a favour: try to preserve the cultural roots of the city, of the country, of culture. This civilization has the danger of becoming uprooted, and we know that without roots we do not grow, and what the tree has of flower, comes from what it has buried (cf F.L. Bernardez, Para recobrar). And strive for this: to keep your roots, because the roots are what give us identity. Our identity is that of today, but it comes from the roots, and will be transmitted to our children, our grandchildren, always from the roots. Thank you for doing this.
Dear friends, I entrust each of you to the maternal intercession of Mary Most Holy. You are always close to your work and support your families, to whom I address a special thought. I ask you to please pray for me; I wish you a happy new year and I cordially impart my Apostolic Blessing to you and to those who are dear to you.
Thank you!
(Original text in Italian)
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