Father Bruno Silvestrini is a true native of the Marche region. He was born in the shadow of the Basilica of the Madonna of Loreto, in a small village called Porto Recanati. In this place, Frederick Barbarossa built a castle to protect the treasure of the Holy House of Loreto. Therefore, his town is strongly connected to the Virgin, and he himself is in love with the Virgin Mary. When he looked out of his home window, he could see the dome of the Loreto sanctuary from afar. Even now, when he returns home and sees the dome of the Basilica of Loreto, his heart fills with joy.

Today, this Augustinian priest, ordained in 1981, after holding various roles in the Church and his order, is the custodian of the Apostolic Sacristy and collaborates with the Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff.

Father Bruno, since childhood you have been connected to the Loreto sanctuary, whose custodians are Capuchins. Why did you become an Augustinian priest and not a Capuchin?

To tell the truth, in Porto Recanati I attended the Salesian parish. I had never thought of entering the seminary. But Providence sometimes plays strange tricks. As a boy, I had never met an Augustinian, and none were present in my life. But my mother had a relative who came to celebrate her brother’s wedding: his name was Father Franco Monteverde, who later became one of the main collaborators of Father Trapè in translating the complete works of Saint Augustine. In 1966 I was very small. But this Augustinian priest was very serene, very kind, and he spoke to me about entering the Augustinian seminary. I was so fascinated that starting in May this idea began to grow in me: in September I left for the northern Marche region, not far from Fano, near Urbino, and there I underwent my formation. So it was Providence that made me meet an Augustinian. I did not become a Capuchin or a Salesian, but an Augustinian, because the Lord acts as He wills.

In 1981 you were ordained…

Yes, I was ordained in my hometown, Porto Recanati, by a holy bishop, Francesco Carboni, a missionary in Argentina. It was a very beautiful ordination, and this missionary bishop remained in my heart.

Why did you choose to study liturgy as a priest?

Because my superiors had a plan for me. In Tolentino there is the Basilica of Saint Nicholas of Tolentino, one of the most beautiful basilicas in the Marche region after Loreto, with frescoes from Giotto’s school and the 13th-century cloister. The basilica is linked to the spirituality of Saint Nicholas of Tolentino, a miracle worker, much loved by the people of Marche. So my superiors planned for me, after my liturgical studies, to become rector of the Basilica of Saint Nicholas.

Where did you study?

I studied in Padua, at the Santa Giustina Institute, and in Rome at Sant’Anselmo, and I graduated with a thesis on the pastoral life of Saint Augustine. After that, I had many commitments from that moment on.

Many commitments within the Augustinian Order until 2006, when you were called by Pope Benedict XVI to the parish of the Vatican City, that is, the Church of Sant’Anna.

At the time, I was visiting the Augustinian mission in the highest part of the Apurímac province in the Peruvian Andes with the provincial father of Italy. There are people who are extremely poor, abandoned by the Peruvian state, living between 3500 and 4500 meters, very poor but good and very religious. I went in January, during the rainy season. I received an email from Father General Robert Prevost telling me to return to Rome as soon as possible; he informed me that I had been assigned to the Augustinian community of Sant’Anna parish and that on February 5 Pope Benedict XVI would visit the Vatican parish.

I returned to Italy and participated in the celebration with Benedict XVI. At the end, they called me because the Pope wanted to meet me. Benedict XVI, together with the then-parish priest Father Gioele Schiavella, told me that I had been chosen as parish priest of Sant’Anna. He remembered that two years earlier he had met me in Tolentino in the chapel of Saint Nicholas, together with his brother Georg. It was a very beautiful memory because the Pope told me that Saint Nicholas of Tolentino is the second patron of Bavaria. That is why Ratzinger was very attached to Saint Nicholas. So, from February 5, 2006, I began this path, serving for 13 years as parish priest of Sant’Anna.

In the Vatican parish, did you also welcome Pope Francis?

I welcomed Francis four days after his election, on March 17, 2013. He celebrated Holy Mass in his parish and delivered the homily.

Currently, you are the custodian of the Apostolic Sacristy. What does that involve?

The Apostolic Sacristy is everything sacred in the Apostolic Palace, directly linked to the Holy Father. I manage the sacred vessels, prepare the chapels of the Palace, especially the Pauline Chapel, for the Pope’s celebrations and for anyone who wishes to pray there. I also manage the lipsanotheca: the relics donated to the Holy Father that I preserve.

I must also take care of vesting the Pope liturgically, and not only him but also cardinals, bishops, and priests for the Eucharistic celebrations that the Holy Father presides over in the Basilica, the square, or wherever he is. Even when the Pope travels, I must prepare everything for him and his entourage. I handle all aspects of liturgy: vestments, albs, sacred vessels (chalices, ciboria, and all altar items).

Father Bruno talks about Pope Leo XIV

Let’s talk about your confrere who became Pope. When did you meet Robert Prevost?

We studied together in Rome at the Santa Monica College on Via Paolo VI: I studied liturgy, and he his specialization. We didn’t study the same subjects, but we lived together in the same convent from 1984–85 and had the same prior. He already had an advantage: for the student fathers, he was a bit like our superior because of his calmness and kindness. He was always calm and wise.

But today everyone knows he liked tennis…

Yes, he was athletic and played tennis. In Santa Monica College, on the upper floors, there were courts, and he was always there organizing the lists of those who wanted to play or practice other sports.

After your studies, you went separate ways…

Yes, he returned to his province and went on mission. Later he returned as General Father of the Augustinians from 2001 to 2013. During the first part of his mandate, I was in Tolentino; then he called me to the Sant’Anna parish in the Vatican.

You remain in the Vatican, while Father Prevost returns to mission in Peru…

He remained in mission in Peru from 2014 until returning to Rome in 2023 as Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops and cardinal. But I want to underline something: even though he did not live with the Augustinians, he always maintained the desire to live the Augustinian fraternity. That’s why he never ate at Santa Marta or other places where cardinals ate, but always with the community at the curia on Via Paolo VI. Even now, when he is free from pontifical duties, he comes to our community in the sacristy, where there are three of us, and spends time with us. He lives his free time with us because he wants to feel like a brother among Augustinian brothers.

Where is your community’s small convent located?

Our small convent is in the ancient heart of the Apostolic Palace, near the Sistine Chapel, the Ducal Hall, and the Pauline Chapel. Here we are three: me, a Nigerian brother, and a Filipino brother. We have a refectory, kitchen, chapel, and our rooms. The Pope comes, stops, and talks with us: he experiences moments of fraternity. He doesn’t ask for anything more than to be together calmly and serenely.

Returning to the conclave, you were one of the non-cardinals admitted. What did you do?

As sacristan, I had to prepare everything liturgically, starting with the Novendiales celebrations, then prepare all that was needed in the Sistine and Pauline Chapels according to the cardinals’ needs during the conclave. Every day I had to be present and was called whenever something was needed. We also prepared the “room of tears,” because everything had to be ready when the Pope was elected.

But after “extra omnes,” all non-cardinals had to leave…

We placed the voting ballots on tables before the cardinals arrived. We also prepared water and a glass for each cardinal because it was very hot. We could not speak to the cardinals; this is the law of the conclave. Then we went outside and knew nothing more. We waited without phones, TV, or radio, completely isolated. I waited in the Sala Regia until the Pope was elected.

On the first day of the conclave, journalists were outside watching for the smoke, which did not appear. Everyone wondered what was happening inside…

It was the first time for many cardinals; everyone had to take a long oath. People outside did not realize the large number of cardinals and that each had many individual tasks, so it got very late.

And before there was the meditation by Cardinal Cantalamessa…

Yes, it was very long. In any case, I can confirm that on the first night of the conclave there was no problem.

And the second day went faster…

Did you have any premonition that your confrere would be elected?

To be honest, and I told the Pope, I didn’t think they would elect him. He was foreign and did not have much Curial experience, even though he directed the Congregation for Bishops for two years. I thought it would be Cardinal Parolin, the Secretary of State for many years. When Cardinal Prevost was elected, I was speechless; I felt an indescribable joy for the choice of my confrere.

The Pope had to sign the document, then the obedience of all the cardinals, and finally the Sistine door was opened. I was allowed to enter, and I presented myself before him. “Holy Father, may I embrace you?” I asked. “Of course,” he replied. I had the great joy of standing before him and looking into his eyes: he became Pope, Leo XIV. He chose the name Leo in remembrance of Leo XIII, who, like him, was devoted to the Madonna del Buon Consiglio of Genazzano.

Since then, how do you experience this closeness to the Pope, who is also your confrere?

I live it serenely, with great joy, because I see how calm, serene, and good the Pope is, and how much he loves the Church. He never gets angry, never loses his temper. Sometimes I wonder: after all those audiences, like on Wednesdays, when he greets people and walks around the square, when he comes to us, I thought he would be tired, but he isn’t.

Do you wonder why?

I believe it is the grace of office. Many people want to speak with him, seek advice. But I see him very serene. I am thrilled because I believe the Holy Spirit acts in him. It is a great gift of the Holy Spirit; we needed a Pope like this, one who inspires confidence.

Besides liturgical moments, when do you meet?

We see each other every day. Sometimes he doesn’t come because of commitments, but generally we meet daily, even at lunch.

What does the Pope need right now, at this time?

The Pope needs support. With my confreres, we welcome him and enjoy being together. He needs serenity, relaxation, beyond daily duties. One or two hours, no more, the Pope asks us to stay and pray together, live fraternity.

What do you talk about with the Pope?

The Pope asks about our life and work. We never ask delicate things, never talk about his activities, because he is discreet and would not answer. We talk about our fraternal life.

We live in an individualistic, selfish world, which can even “contaminate” priests who live their ministry selfishly. The Pope shows that community life is very important. What does he want to teach priests?

The Pope is serene and happy with his vocation, and I believe that by meeting people and offering his gaze and welcome, he makes each one ask: where does Leo XIV find the strength to do all this?

And the answer?

His strength, smile, and serenity find their source in spirituality. I believe the Pope wants priests to care for their inner serenity and spiritual relationship with a vocation loved by the Lord. At any age, when we were called, we began a strong path of faith, and activities should not make us lose enthusiasm. The eyes are the mirror of the soul. When a priest is not serene, he is not effective in pastoral life.

Serenity is found in prayer, the Eucharistic celebration, in feeling loved and loving brothers in the priesthood and presbytery; then one can be more effective and credible. A priest should not do a thousand things. We must be people in love with the Lord, who announce the joy of the resurrection, even through many crosses. In the world, there are difficulties and crosses, but hope must never be lacking.