Pope Francis on Friday, February 22, 2026, made a pastoral visit to the Church of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in the heart of Rome, near Termini Station. The visit comes as the area presents a stark contrast between affluence and poverty, a dynamic the pontiff addressed in a homily calling for solidarity and compassion.
During the visit, coinciding with the first Sunday of Lent, Pope Francis urged parishioners to be “a leaven of the Gospel” and “a sign of closeness and love.” The Pope’s message resonated particularly strongly given the area’s unique position as a crossroads for travelers and those in need. This development underscores the Catholic Church’s ongoing commitment to serving vulnerable populations in urban centers.
In his homily, Pope Francis invited the faithful to rediscover Baptism as a source of freedom and fraternity. He reflected on the significance of Lent and the grace of Baptism, noting the contradictions present in the surrounding area: “the carelessness with which those who have all the comforts arrive and depart, and those who have no roof over their heads. the many opportunities for good and the widespread violence; the desire to work honestly and the illegal drug trade and prostitution.”
“Dear brothers and sisters,” the Pope said, “a few days ago, with the Rite of Ashes, we began the Lenten season. Lent is an intense liturgical time that offers us the opportunity to rediscover the richness of our Baptism, so that we may live as fully renewed beings, thanks to the fact that Jesus was incarnate, died and rose again.”
He continued, drawing on the readings of the day, to explain how the story of Creation highlights the freedom to recognize and accept the difference between Creator and creation. “The Gospel seems to answer the ancient dilemma: can I fully realize my life by saying ‘yes’ to God? Or, to be free and happy, must I free myself from Him?”
According to the Pope, the scene of Christ’s temptation essentially addresses this dramatic question, revealing the true humanity of Jesus and demonstrating a freedom that is fulfilled by saying “yes” to God. This new humanity, he explained, is born from the source of Baptism.
“Baptism introduces us to relationships – it calls us to live in friendship with Jesus and thus to enter into His communion with the Father,” Pope Francis stated. “This grace-filled relationship allows us to live also in true closeness with others, in a freedom that – unlike what Satan offers Jesus – is not a search for one’s own power, but a love that is self-giving and makes us all brothers and sisters.”
The Pope recalled that Pope Leo XIII had asked Saint John Bosco to build a church in this very location, recognizing its central importance. He noted the area’s unique crossroads, which have become even more significant over time.
“dear ones, today, meeting with you, I see you as special custodians of closeness, facing the challenges associated with this territory,” he said. “In this territory there are many young people studying at university, passengers traveling to and from work, immigrants looking for work, young refugees who, thanks to the Salesian initiative, have found an opportunity to meet Italian peers and carry out integration projects; and then there are our brothers and sisters who have no home and locate shelter in the Caritas premises on Marsala Street.”
He urged the parish to grab responsibility for this reality, to be a leaven of the Gospel in the area’s complexities, and to be a sign of closeness and love. The Pope expressed his gratitude to the Salesians for their tireless work and encouraged everyone to continue to be a small light and hope in the area.
“May Mary, Help of Christians, always support our journey, give us strength in moments of temptation and trial, so that we may fully live the freedom and fraternity of God’s children,” he concluded.
