Friday 28 August 2026 — Audience with a delegation of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA · Audience with the members of the Institut International des Sciences Administratives · Credential letters of the Ambassador of the United Kingdom · Telegram for the death of King Harald V of Norway · Calendar of September and October celebrations released · Solemnity of Saint Augustine
🤝 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.
Event detail →📷 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…
📋 Daily schedule
28
Aug
🤝 Audience
Audience with the members of the Institut International des Sciences Administratives
📍 Apostolic Palace
Also in the morning the Pope receives the members of the Institut International des Sciences Administratives (IIAS), gathered in Rome for their annual conference, at the close of their work. The institute, founded in 1930 and based in Brussels, brings together scholars and public administrators from around the world and counts the Holy See among its members. In his address, in French, Leo XIV links the conference theme — balance in the use of digital technologies — to the concerns expressed in his encyclical on artificial intelligence: he warns of the risk that "decisions concerning human life are entrusted to machines" and calls for prudence, rigorous controls and sometimes even a slowing down, noting that calling for prudence does not mean being against progress but exercising responsible attention toward the human family. He stresses the need for a shared ethics, especially given the concentration of technological control in a few hands, and encourages researchers to contribute, within public administration, to the humanization of digital technologies so that they serve life and peace.
📰 Articles
Vatican.vaOfficial
Aux membres de l'Institut International des Sciences Administratives (28 août 2026)
The full text of the papal address published on the Holy See website (in French).
Holy See Press OfficeOfficial
Audience with the Members of the Institut International des Sciences Administratives, 28.08.2026
Official communiqué of the Holy See Press Office on the August 28, 2026 audience.
28
Aug
🤝 Audiences
Credential letters of the Ambassador of the United Kingdom and the day's audiences
📍 Apostolic Palace
Pope Leo XIV receives Tarandip Kaur Sandhu, new Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Holy See, for the presentation of her Credential Letters. During the morning the Pontiff also receives in audience engineer Ignacio Sánchez Galán, chairman of Iberdrola, with his wife, and CEO Pedro Azagra, with his wife; Cardinal Filipe Neri António Sebastião do Rosário Ferrão, archbishop of Goa and Damão, with a delegation of the Indian Bishops' Conference; and Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, archbishop of Marseille, with a delegation of the French Bishops' Conference.
28
Aug
📌 Appointments
Appointments: archbishop of Damascus of the Maronites and two other prelates
📍 Vatican City
The Press Office bulletin makes known the day's decisions on the governance of the Churches. The Pope accepted the resignation of Archbishop Samir Nassar and approved the election of Chorbishop Sharbel (Ghattas) Maroun as new archbishop of Damascus of the Maronites (Syria): born in Lebanon in 1962, ordained a priest in 1989, he was protosyncellus of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles, in the United States. Bishop Georgios Altouvas was also transferred from the archdiocese of Corfu, Zakynthos and Cephalonia to the see of Syros, Milos and Santorini (Greece), retaining the personal title of archbishop. Finally the Pontiff appointed Msgr. Gabriel Narciso Escobar Ayala, S.D.B., until now apostolic vicar of Chaco Paraguayo, as auxiliary bishop of Asunción (Paraguay): he was born in Asunción in 1971.
28
Aug
On the morning of August 28, King Harald V of Norway died in Oslo at the age of 89; on the throne since 1991, he had been hospitalized since August 17 for a blood illness. Pope Leo XIV sends a telegram of condolence addressed to the new sovereign, King Haakon VIII, son of the late king: he expresses his sadness at the news of the death, sends heartfelt condolences to the King, the Royal Family and the whole nation, recalls Harald V's many years of devoted service to the realm, assures his prayers for the eternal rest of the late King and invokes upon the Norwegian people and all who mourn his loss Almighty God's blessings of consolation and peace.
28
Aug
The Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff releases the calendar of liturgical celebrations presided over by Pope Leo XIV for September and October 2026. Scheduled: Holy Mass on September 7 at 6:00 pm at the Basilica-Shrine of the Mother of Good Counsel in Genazzano; the apostolic journey to France and visit to UNESCO headquarters on September 25–28; Holy Mass on October 8 at 6:00 pm in St. Peter's Basilica for the inauguration of the academic year of the Pontifical Universities; and Holy Mass on October 14 at 10:00 am in St. Peter's Square concluding the meeting for the tenth anniversary of the apostolic exhortation "Amoris laetitia."
📰 Articles
Holy See Press OfficeOfficial
Calendar of the liturgical celebrations presided over by the Holy Father Leo XIV (September - October 2026)
The official calendar of the papal celebrations for September and October 2026.
AgenSIRArticle
Leo XIV: the program of celebrations through October. In France from September 25
A summary of the liturgical calendar released by the Holy See Press Office.
18:30
28
Aug
⛪ Solemnity of Saint Augustine
Pavia celebrates the solemnity of Saint Augustine with Cardinal Pizzaballa's Pontifical Mass
📍 Basilica of San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro, Pavia
The four-year cycle of celebrations for the solemnity of the bishop of Hippo, patron and co-patron of the diocese, concludes in Pavia, the city that holds the relics of Saint Augustine in the basilica of San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro. The closing Solemn Pontifical Mass, at 6:30 pm, is presided over by Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem; afterward the Saint's relics are returned to the marble Ark. The celebrations, opened on August 25 with a day of thanksgiving for Pope Leo XIV's pastoral visit to Pavia on June 20, remain marked by the special bond between the city and the Pontiff, an Augustinian friar, who before the Saint's tomb had invited the Church to walk together, without divisions.
📰 Articles
Diocese of PaviaOfficial
Saint Augustine: Cardinal Pizzaballa awaited for the August 28 Pontifical Mass
The diocesan announcement of the closing Solemn Pontifical Mass for the solemnity of Saint Augustine, presided over by Cardinal Pizzaballa.
Il TicinoArticle
Solemnity of Saint Augustine: relics of the Saint displayed in the basilica of San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro in Pavia
The program of the closing days of the Augustinian solemnity in Pavia, marked by the memory of Pope Leo XIV's visit and the August 28 Pontifical Mass.
12:00
28
Aug
🎙️ Press conference
Castel Gandolfo presents the celebrations for Our Lady of the Lake
📍 "Marcello Costa" Council Hall, Piazza della Libertà, Castel Gandolfo
At midday, in the Council Hall of the town of Castel Gandolfo, a press conference is held to present the celebrations in honor of Our Lady of the Lake, scheduled for Saturday, August 29 at 6:00 pm in the Church of Maria Santissima del Lago with Pope Leo XIV. The program of the Mass and the route of the following procession are illustrated: the procession will take place in part on the waters of Lake Albano — with the Pontiff aboard the "Falco" boat of the Regional Park of the Castelli Romani — in an event without precedent in the history of the Popes.
📰 Articles
Mediterranewsnews
Castel Gandolfo, press conference on the celebrations in honor of Our Lady of the Lake
The announcement of the August 28 midday press conference presenting the August 29 Mass and procession with Pope Leo XIV.
Castelli Notizienews
Pope Leo XIV by boat on Lake Albano with the "Falco": preparations for the historic Our Lady of the Lake procession of August 29
The Regional Park of the Castelli Romani's preparations for the August 29 procession on the water.
🗓️ Upcoming events
2026-08-29
⛵ Mass and procession at Castel Gandolfo for Our Lady of the Lake
Holy Mass in the Church of Maria Santissima del Lago and procession, for the traditional late-August Marian feast.
Go to page →2026-08-30
🙏 Sunday Angelus at Castel Gandolfo
Pope Leo XIV leads the Marian prayer of the Angelus from Piazza della Libertà, the day after the Mass and lake procession for the Madonna del Lago.
Go to page →2026-09-01
🌱 Mass for the Care of Creation at Castel Gandolfo
The Pope presides over the Mass for the Care of Creation in the Garden of the Madonnina del Borgo Laudato si', at the opening of the Season of Creation.
Go to page →2026-09-05
🌿 First anniversary of the Borgo Laudato Si'
The first anniversary of the inauguration of the center for the care of creation at Castel Gandolfo, opened by Pope Leo XIV on September 5, 2025.
Go to page →2026-09-07
🕯️ Mass at Genazzano for the eve of the Nativity of Mary
The Pope celebrates Holy Mass at 6:00 pm at the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Counsel, on the eve of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Go to page →2026-09-14
📚 Opening of the "AQVA" exhibition in the Vatican Library
The Pope visits the Vatican Apostolic Library and opens "AQVA", the first chapter of the exhibition cycle "Catastrophe and wonder".
Go to page →2026-09-25
✈️ Departure for the apostolic journey to France
From September 25 to 28 the Pope visits Paris (Élysée, UNESCO, Notre-Dame), Lourdes and Metz.
Go to page →2026-10-07
📖 Meeting on the tenth anniversary of Amoris Laetitia
A meeting in the Vatican (October 7-14) convened by the Pope with heads of the Eastern Churches, presidents of Episcopal Conferences and some families.
Go to page →2026-10-08
🎓 Mass for the inauguration of the academic year of the Pontifical Universities
At 6:00 pm in St. Peter's Basilica the Pope presides over the Holy Mass opening the academic year of the Roman pontifical universities.
Go to page →2026-10-14
📖 Closing Mass of the meeting on the tenth anniversary of Amoris Laetitia
At 10:00 am in St. Peter's Square the Pope celebrates the Holy Mass concluding the meeting for the tenth anniversary of the exhortation "Amoris laetitia".
Go to page →2026-10-27
🕊️ To Assisi for the 40th anniversary of the Spirit of Assisi
Interreligious gathering promoted by the Community of Sant'Egidio for the fortieth anniversary of the World Day of Prayer for Peace desired by John Paul II in 1986.
Go to page →2026-11-06
✈️ Departure for the apostolic journey to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru
From November 6 to 17 the Pope visits Montevideo, Buenos Aires and Lima, with a special stop in Chiclayo, his former diocese.
Go to page →🔗 Official sources