Audience with a delegation of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA — 2026-08-28

All events of the day›2026-08-28›Audience with a delegation of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA

🤝 Audience

Audience with a delegation of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA

📍 Apostolic Palace, Consistory Hall

In the morning Pope Leo XIV receives in audience a delegation of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of the United States of America, on a visit to Rome. In his address, in English, the Pope thanks the members for their service to the poor and recalls that, following the example of St. Vincent de Paul, "prayer and social justice are not merely complementary but are in fact inseparable." He cites the apostolic exhortation "Dilexi Te" and St. Augustine's teaching on the Christocentric nature of care for the poor: caring for others, when motivated by love, not only helps those in need but also opens the heart of the giver to God's grace. The coincidence with the solemnity of St. Augustine, whose spiritual son the Pontiff is as an Augustinian friar, gives the meeting a particular resonance: the Pope entrusts the delegates to the intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church, and of St. Augustine himself on his feast day.

📷 Photos

Pope Leo XIV with the delegation of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA in the Hall of the Consistory (28 August 2026).

📰 Articles

Vatican.vaOfficial

To a Delegation of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA (28 August 2026)

The full text of the papal address published on the Holy See website (in English).

Vatican NewsOfficial

Pope Leo: prayer and social justice are inseparable

Report on the audience with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA, with the Pope's words on charity that purifies the heart of those who practise it.

Holy See Press OfficeOfficial

Audience with the Delegation of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, of the United States of America, 28.08.2026

Official communiqué of the Holy See Press Office on the August 28, 2026 audience.

📜 Speech text

Address to a delegation of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA

In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Peace be with you! Good morning, everyone. Welcome. Thank you for your patience. With great joy I extend my cordial greetings to all of you, and I hope that your time in Rome, in the Eternal City will strengthen your faith and deepen your desire to serve the Lord and to serve his Church…

In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Peace be with you!

Good morning, everyone. Welcome. Thank you for your patience.

With great joy I extend my cordial greetings to all of you, and I hope that your time in Rome, in the Eternal City will strengthen your faith and deepen your desire to serve the Lord and to serve his Church.

I thank you in particular for your devoted service to the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, and through it, to your brothers and sisters across the United States of America.

Indeed, by freely offering your God-given gifts and talents, you give eloquent witness to your faith in service to the building up of the Kingdom of God.

At the same time, I encourage you to deepen your relationship with our Lord so that his grace may continue to guide and strengthen your service.

Saint Vincent de Paul demonstrated that prayer and social justice are not merely complementary but are in fact inseparable.

It is therefore my hope that you will continually turn to your heavenly patron in order to follow his example and seek his intercession.

Moreover, as I recalled in Dilexi Te, Saint Augustine taught the Christocentric nature of care for the poor and held that God will not be outdone in generosity to those who serve them.

We therefore believe that caring for others, when motivated by love, not only helps those in need, but also opens the heart of the giver to God's grace.

Dear friends, I urge you, then, always to give of yourselves. In this way, the Lord's grace will steadily purify your hearts and minds, and you will more readily recognize Christ in your neighbour, both in those you serve and in those with whom you work.

Finally, when you return to your homes, please know that you do so accompanied by my prayers. In a particular way, I ask you to bring my warm greetings to your colleagues and to the people for whom you care.

With these thoughts, I entrust each of you to the intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church. And perhaps, today, in a special way, also to Saint Augustine on his feast day. Thank you.

So, please stand, and let us pray together as the Lord has taught us.

And may the blessing of Almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, come down on you and remain with you for ever. Amen.

Official source ↗