San Marino: San Marino is preparing to welcome Pope Leo XIV with a strong sense of joy, prayer and anticipation as the Pope gets ready to visit the small European Republic on Saturday, August 22. For many people across the country, the visit is not only an important religious occasion but also an opportunity to reflect on San Marino’s Christian heritage, its traditions and the values that have shaped its identity.
Among those eagerly waiting for the Pope are residents of the Il Colore del Grano centre, a residential facility for people with disabilities. Inside the centre, colourful handmade decorations fill the rooms as residents prepare for the special day. Paper sea creatures hang from the ceiling, while paintings and decorations create a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
Several residents are expected to gather with their families and caregivers along the route that Pope Leo will take as he travels towards Mount Titano, the Palazzo Pubblico and the Basilica of San Marino.
The residents have been preparing in their own way for the historic visit. Antonia Cecchetti said she wants to ask the Pope to pray for peace, particularly for children who are suffering and dying in wars. Marinella Casali remembers meeting Pope John Paul II during his visit to San Marino in 1982, while Graziella Ceci has prepared questions she hopes to ask Pope Leo.
Another resident, Leano Bernardi, expressed his feelings in a simple way, saying that he is happy about the Pope’s arrival.
The residents have also prepared gifts for the Pope, including a small rosary decorated with white and light blue beads, the colours of San Marino. They have also written a letter containing their thoughts, values and reflections.
Staff members have spent time helping residents understand the importance of the occasion. Francesca Civerchia, director of the facility, said activities were organised to allow the residents to experience the Pope’s visit from their own perspective.
Around 50 residents, relatives and staff members are expected to leave early on Saturday morning to find a place along the route where they can greet Pope Leo. The visit has created considerable excitement at the centre, with many people eager to take part.
The anticipation is also strong among older residents at San Marino’s residential care facility. Ten residents gathered to share their thoughts about the Pope’s visit while most of the facility’s 114 residents were resting after lunch.
Some residents had carefully prepared written messages expressing their hopes and requests for prayer. For several of them, the visit has brought back memories of Pope John Paul II’s 1982 visit to San Marino.
Others spoke about their personal connections with the Vatican and their excitement at seeing Pope Leo at close range. Margherita Scagliola said she is particularly happy about the opportunity to greet a Pope who regularly speaks about peace and encourages people to reject war.
The final stop of Pope Leo’s visit will be the Basilica of San Marino, the church dedicated to Saint Marinus, the founder and patron saint of the Republic.
The Basilica was built during the first half of the nineteenth century according to a design by Bolognese architect Antonio Serra. It stands on the remains of an earlier fourth century parish church dedicated to Saint Marinus and houses relics associated with the saint, including a major relic of his skull.
Rector Father Marco Mazzanti said preparations for the Pope’s arrival have involved much more than arranging the practical details of the visit. For him, preparing the Basilica also means helping the people of San Marino rediscover their Christian roots.
The Basilica is regarded as the mother church of San Marino and the surrounding territory. Its history is closely connected with the values that have influenced the Republic, particularly freedom, truth and Christian love.
The faithful have been preparing through special prayers for Pope Leo, the Church and the Republic. Educational, cultural and religious events have also been organised to help people understand the meaning of the Pope’s visit.
Among these activities were a presentation on Pope Leo’s encyclical Magnifica Humanitas and a meeting focused on the Pope’s life and ministry. According to Father Mazzanti, these preparations have helped create a spirit of joyful expectation among the faithful.
At the centre of San Marino’s religious identity is Saint Marinus himself. Father Mazzanti described him not only as a saint and founder but also as a figure connected with the origins of the Republic’s political identity. The community founded by Saint Marinus was built around ideals of freedom, truth and Christian love.
The Salesian community in San Marino is also preparing for the visit according to the spiritual tradition of Saint John Bosco. This tradition places particular importance on Jesus in the Eucharist, Mary and the Pope as the Successor of Saint Peter.
For the Salesians, welcoming Pope Leo is therefore an opportunity to pray for his ministry and for the wider Catholic Church. Their work with young people is also an important part of their mission, following the educational approach developed by Saint John Bosco.
As Saturday approaches, San Marino is combining practical preparations with prayer and reflection. For residents of care homes, families, religious communities and ordinary citizens, the Pope’s visit represents a moment of shared happiness and spiritual significance.
The visit is expected to bring together people of different generations and experiences, from older residents who remember previous papal visits to younger people preparing to see Pope Leo for the first time. Across the Republic, the mood is one of excitement, gratitude and hope as San Marino prepares to welcome the Pope and celebrate the Christian heritage that remains deeply connected to its identity.