Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass for local homeless people, invites them to lunch at summer villa
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'And I encourage you not to distinguish between those who assist and those who are assisted, between those who seem to give and those who seem to receive, between those who appear poor and those who feel they have something to offer in terms of time, skills, and help,' he said.
In the church, he said, everyone is poor and precious, and all share the same dignity.
Leo, the former Robert Prevost, spent most of his adult life working with
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The luncheon was held at the
Local caterers provided a menu of lasagna, eggplant parmesan, and roast veal. For dessert, the menu called for fruit salad and sweets named for the pope, 'Dolce Leone.'
Guests at Leo's table included Rosabal Leon, a Peruvian refugee who has been in Italy for a few months, along with her husband and two children. One of his other luncheon companions was an 85-year-old Roman, Gabriella Oliveiro, who lives on her own, organizers said.
Leo is expected to wrap up his vacation Tuesday and return to the Vatican, but there are indications he plans to use the Castel Gandolfo retreat regularly as an escape from Rome, resuming the tradition that Pope Francis had eschewed in favor of staycations at the Vatican.
Leo's older brother, John Prevost, told NBC's Chicago affiliate that the pope found the getaway relaxing and had actually hoped to read a book during his vacation — the pope likes legal thrillers — but hadn't found the time. He did, however, make use of the estate's tennis court and swimming pool, he said.
Prevost, who speaks daily with the pope to compare notes on the New York Times daily Wordle puzzle, said he understood the thing Leo missed most about being pope was not being able to drive.
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'Driving to him is totally relaxing,' Prevost said, adding that when they were together, his little brother would always insist on driving himself. 'Absolutely, because otherwise then he would criticize my driving,' Prevost said, chuckling.
In the interview, Prevost revealed the pope's favorite pizza — pepperoni — and candy: Peeps.
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