Refugees to share lunch with Pope Leo XIV

By Daniele Piccini

For 13 refugees supported by the Centro Astalli, the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Centre in Rome, on Saturday, 11 July, will be an extraordinary day.

Together with around 200 other guests, they will visit the Pontifical Villas at Castel Gandolfo, explore the Borgo Laudato si’, and share lunch with Pope Leo XIV. It will be an experience, says Francesca Cuomo, the Centro Astalli communications manager, that will help them “feel welcomed in a place that affirms their dignity.”

In the past lives of each of them are stories of violence and persecution. They left their homelands, facing uncertainty in search of safety and the chance to build a new future. It is a journey that cannot be made alone, but requires the support of those willing to offer a helping hand at the right moment.

Some of the guests are currently part of one of Centro Astalli’s hospitality projects.

“These are accommodation facilities made available by religious congregations in response to Pope Francis’ appeal in 2013, when he visited Centro Astalli and encouraged religious communities to open their doors to refugees,” Cuomo explains.

The group includes three families and two young women from Latin America, one from El Salvador and the other from Peru. They have all been granted international protection in Italy, either as refugees or under subsidiary protection.

Raising awareness in schools

The two young women previously stayed in one of Centro Astalli’s reception centres for women and now take part in the organisation’s educational programme, Windows: Stories of Refugees, sharing their experiences with students in secondary schools.

“They tell young people about the persecution and violence they experienced in their countries of origin,” Cuomo says. “They explain why they were forced to flee, the journey that brought them to Italy, and the challenges and opportunities they encountered as they began rebuilding their lives.”

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An educational project promoted by Centro Astalli   (Centro Astalli)

Integration is the goal

Centro Astalli’s programmes aim to support refugees on the path towards full inclusion, helping them not only find accommodation but also employment and independence.

“Many of the families and young people are already working,” Cuomo notes. “Some are still receiving support as they transition to independent living, while others have already achieved autonomy, both professionally and personally. From the very first day, our goal is always to accompany people towards inclusion.”

That process can take time. Learning a new language, entering education or the workforce, and finding a place to call home are all essential steps in rebuilding a life after forced displacement.

“Every person’s journey is different,” Cuomo adds. “Some paths are longer and more complex than others, but the goal is always the same: to enable people to begin a new life independently in another country.”

Upholding human dignity, fostering fraternity

The invitation to take part in the day at Castel Gandolfo came through the Apostolic Almoner’s Office, which has previously involved refugees assisted by Centro Astalli in other initiatives.

For many of the guests, the opportunity to visit the Pontifical Villas, discover the Borgo Laudato si’, and share a meal with Pope Leo XIV is an extraordinary experience.

“Our beneficiaries accepted the invitation with great joy,” Cuomo says. “Opportunities like this are rare for them. It allows them to feel welcomed, not simply as refugees, but as people whose dignity is recognised and valued, in a place created to foster fraternity, sharing, and care for every person.”

Centro Astalli in Rome assists refugees in a process of integration   (Centro Astalli)