Vatican City: Marking the third anniversary of L’Osservatore di Strada, Pope Leo XIV expressed heartfelt gratitude to the editors, contributors, and supporters of the monthly publication, praising its mission of amplifying the voices of society’s most overlooked.
The celebration took place on Saturday at the Mediterranea Rete headquarters of the Society of St Vincent de Paul in Rome. The gathering brought together members of the editorial team, street-based contributors, volunteers, and friends of the paper. On this occasion, the Pope’s message of appreciation was read aloud by Paolo Ruffini, Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication.
In his message, Pope Leo acknowledged the publication’s vital contribution over the past three years, describing it as a beacon of hope and dignity for the marginalized. “Thank you for your newspaper,” the Pope said, “in which, as my predecessor Pope Francis once noted, ‘the least become protagonists.’”
Pope Leo emphasized the importance of shifting perspectives and breaking free from social conventions that silence the unheard. “Your work matters because it reminds us to see the world from the street, with the courage to step outside our familiar frames of reference,” he said. “Only then can we hear the voices that are so often drowned out those of people who live without a platform, without a spotlight.”
He encouraged the team to continue their mission with perseverance and faith. “The hand of God is present in your stories,” he wrote. “You testify that no human life is beyond redemption, and no story is without hope when we believe in God’s love.”
The Pope also thanked the volunteers who distribute the newspaper freely in St. Peter’s Square every Sunday. “Through your humble presence, you accompany the Pope and the Church, quietly but faithfully, before and after the Angelus prayer,” he noted.
Quoting St. Augustine, Pope Leo reminded the audience of the deeper spiritual value of their efforts: “Blessed are those who have compassion on others, for they will obtain compassion.” He added, “Your compassion, humility, and hope in the face of difficulty are gifts to the Church and to the world.”
Others present at the event included Monsignor Lucio Ruiz, Secretary of the Dicastery for Communication; Andrea Monda, Editor-in-Chief of L’Osservatore Romano; and Giuliano Crepaldi, President of the Society of St Vincent de Paul. All expressed solidarity with the mission of L’Osservatore di Strada, which continues to provide a platform for people living on the margins, particularly the homeless and disenfranchised.
In closing, Pope Leo encouraged the team and readers alike to “keep walking together with courage and trust bringing glimpses of the city of God into the city of man.”
With Pope Leo’s words, the third anniversary of L’Osservatore di Strada was not just a moment of reflection, but a renewed call to action for all those committed to social justice and human dignity.