At the Grotto of Lourdes in the Vatican Gardens, Pope Leo XIV presided over Mass for the feast of St. Michael the Archangel, patron saint of the Vatican Gendarmerie. During the celebration, which was addressed to the members of this security force, the pontiff urged them to live their mission as  “witnesses of peace.”

A mission beyond the profession

In his homily, the Pope recalled that the work of gendarmes is not only professional, but a service to the good of the Church. He emphasized that their discreet and confident presence can express a Christian style not only with words, but also with attentive gestures that protect and respect those around them.

Leo XIV quoted the apostle Paul:  “Do not be ashamed to bear witness to our Lord”  (2 Tim 1:8), recalling that Jesus’s witness gives meaning to all his actions. He also emphasized that strength, charity, and prudence are essential virtues for gendarmes: strength to protect without dominating, charity toward the little ones, and prudence in action without fear of responsibility.

The value of commitment and faith

The Pope offered special recognition to the young gendarmes who recently took their oath, emphasizing that their promise is not a symbolic act, but a commitment to freedom and dedication to God and the Church.

He invited everyone to persevere in choosing what is good and just, relying on prayer and faith, to grow as witnesses of the Gospel in the performance of their daily service:  “Let us be witnesses of your Word, Lord, in daily life, amid joys and trials.”

A silent, but essential service

The Pope emphasized that much of the gendarmes’ work is done “behind the scenes”: although not always visible, it builds security, order, and respect, reflecting the Church’s mission. Teamwork and mutual support are essential to carrying out this task, always guided by humanity and the Gospel.

Finally, he expressed his gratitude to the families of the gendarmes, whose silent support strengthens the service of each member, and entrusted them to the protection of the Virgin Mary and Archangel St. Michael, so that they may continue to be true witnesses of peace in the Vatican and beyond.

Text of the homily:

MASS FOR THE VATICAN GENDARMERIE

HOMILY OF THE HOLY FATHER LEO XIV

Grotto of Lourdes in the Vatican Gardens
27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 5, 2025

Dear brothers and sisters,

According to a beautiful tradition, I have the opportunity to celebrate the Eucharist with you on the occasion of the feast of your patron saint, Saint Michael the Archangel. We have gathered around the altar of the Lord, under the maternal gaze of the Immaculate Virgin.

Our prayer consists, above all, in listening to the Word of God, which today offers us a strong and clear message. This is how the Apostle Paul exhorts us: “Do not be ashamed of bearing witness to our Lord” (2 Tim 1:8). It is the witness of Jesus that gives meaning to what we do; otherwise, we risk becoming dull, lukewarm Christians, lacking a heart ardent for the Gospel.

Dearest friends, as gendarmes of the Vatican State, your work is not just a profession: it is a service for the good of the Church. Even your daily work bears witness to the Gospel. Therefore, never be ashamed of the example you can set. Often—and you know this from experience—your discreet and confident presence can express an evangelical style, not with words, but even with just an attentive gaze, with a careful gesture that protects each person around you.

To resist the temptation of routine and laziness, Saint Paul himself encourages us thus: “I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you […]. For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power, love and prudence” (2 Tim 1:6-7).

These are, without a doubt, virtues of a good Christian, and therefore also of a Vatican gendarme: they have strength for the law, but not to dominate; they have charity toward the little ones, but not to please those in authority; they are prudent in their actions, but not out of fear of the responsibilities that fall to them. This is the program I entrust especially to you, young gendarmes, who have recently taken your oath. That promise was not a simple formula to repeat, but an act of freedom and dedication. You have affirmed a public “yes” before God and the Church. You have promised fidelity to the Pope and a service that involves your life, in your daily work commitment. Thank you for the courage and availability you have shown in faithfully serving the Holy See!

To persevere in choosing goodness and justice, which fulfills its mission as gendarmes, let us make our own the request we heard in the Gospel, when the apostles say to Jesus: “Increase our faith!” (Luke 17:5). Yes, Lord: stay at our side, convert our hearts, make us witnesses of your Word! Grant that our faith, that is, our relationship with you, may always grow, amid the joys and trials of life. You yourself, Lord, nourish it with the grace of your Holy Spirit, so that it may bear in us fruits of good works.

Let us then speak these words with the hope of those who know they are loved by God and, therefore, desire to live according to His will. When the days of hardship and misunderstanding come, we will find in the Lord’s grace the consolation and loyalty that sustain us.

Dearly beloved, your service takes place above all “behind the scenes.” It’s rarely seen, but it does a lot. It’s a task that builds security, order, and respect: carry it out together, as a team, in mutual cooperation with those who have been working there longer. It’s a service that protects not only places and people, but also reflects a mission: the mission of the Church. Live, then, this same mission, which is the proclamation of the Gospel, in its uniform and, above all, with your humanity.

My gratitude also goes to your families: wives, children, fathers, and mothers. Their “yes” is also sustained by your silent “yes.” Without them, your service would be more fragile. May the Lord bless you, protect you, and fill you with peace.

May the Virgin Mary be your model of faith and dedication, and may Saint Michael, the Archangel who fights evil in the name of God, always protect you and your families. With a humble and faithful heart, you may be witnesses of peace in this small state, which has a horizon that reaches the world.