In his first official audience with Vatican officials and their families, Pope Leo XIV delivered a heartfelt address that was both warm and deeply spiritual. Embracing those who serve within the Roman Curia, the Holy See, the Governorate of Vatican City State, and the Vicariate of Rome, the newly elected Pontiff reminded them that "faith and prayer are like salt—they bring flavor to life and meaning to daily work."
Speaking on a serene Saturday morning in the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV expressed gratitude and humility. “Each of you, in your own way, helps carry forward the mission of Peter’s successor. And you do it not just with diligence but with faith,” he said. Drawing a vivid metaphor, he added, “As salt enhances food, so too do faith and prayer elevate our service, giving it purpose and grace.”
The Holy Father reflected on his own journey to the papacy, recalling his prior role as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and his missionary roots in Peru. “What a journey—from Chiclayo to Rome,” he said with a smile, before quoting Simon Peter’s words to Christ: ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’
In a moment of poignant candor, Pope Leo observed the passing nature of papal office. “Popes come and go, but the Curia remains,” he said. He emphasized the vital role of the Roman Curia as the guardian of the Apostolic See’s institutional memory—“not simply as a custodian of history but as a living channel that nourishes the present and shapes the future.”
The Pope also underscored the missionary calling embedded in Curial work. “To serve here is to serve the Church’s global mission,” he said. Recalling his years among the people of Peru as an Augustinian missionary, Pope Leo remarked that his pastoral vocation was forged in service to the marginalized and the faithful. “For this, I can never thank the Lord enough.”
Turning to the practical realities of daily work, the Pope urged everyone to live their mission even in the simplest moments. “Unity begins in the workplace,” he said. “Let us be patient in misunderstandings, generous in compassion, and humble in our interactions. Let us imitate Christ, even with a bit of humor—something Pope Francis often reminded us of.”
Closing his address, Pope Leo invited all gathered to seek the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. “In this month of May, let us entrust our duties, our families—especially the children, elderly, and those who suffer—to her maternal care,” he said, before leading a united prayer of the Hail Mary.
In his debut encounter with those who support the machinery of the Church, Pope Leo XIV didn’t deliver a strategic vision. Instead, he offered something more foundational: a call to live one’s faith quietly and faithfully, like salt—unseen, yet essential.