Pope Leo XIV says "I invite you...to get to know the life stories marked by the presence of the Spirit in the places where you live"

Pope Leo XIV receives members of the Italian Episcopal Conference’s “Policoro Project”, which supports young people in the country in finding employment. The pope on Saturday to members of the Policoro Project, created in December 1995 by Fr. Mario Operti, an Italian priest working in youth ministry.
ADDRESS OF POPE LEO XIV
TO PARTICIPANTS IN THE “POLICORO PROJECT”
OF THE ITALIAN EPISCOPAL CONFERENCE
in the Vatican Clementine Hall on Saturday, 21 February 2026
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In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Peace be with you!
Dear brother bishops,
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning and welcome!

The Progetto Policoro has reached its thirtieth anniversary: an occasion that should help us look ahead with gratitude and confidence. You, young people, are the beautiful face of Italy that does not give up, does not resign itself, rolls up its sleeves and gets up again. In thirty years, you have sown an immense amount of good that is worth recounting: young people who have committed themselves to social and political causes; lives that have been re-motivated thanks to the Gospel and the social doctrine of the Church.

Many “no’s” have been said to the shortcuts of corruption, labour exploitation and injustice; assets confiscated from the mafias have become investments in social projects; cooperatives have been established that have made cities and local areas flourish; many young people have been accompanied in setting up businesses. In addition, you have spent hours in schools and parishes to educate people about the meaning of work and justice, to teach about peace, to raise awareness to the common good. You have tended to the wounds of young people who have been marginalized, disappointed and disengaged. Thank you for all the good you have sown! Thank you, because you understand clearly that no young person in life can be left “on the sidelines”, but must be supported in realizing their dreams and improving the world.

The Progetto Policoro took its first steps in 1995, thanks to the pastoral creativity of the national directors of social pastoral care, Caritas, and the youth pastoral ministry of the Italian Episcopal Conference. The Ecclesial Convention in Palermo had asked for specific attention to the south of the country. The Project was a proposal, and with the passing of time it grew by trying to respond to new needs and, above all, to evangelize the world of work. Several people have taken on the responsibility of training and accompaniment, in a succession that continues today. Each of them has contributed to the growth of the Project in the territories. The coordinated work of many has multiplied the energies and results. It is a living and youthful image of what the Church can and must be in the service of the country. We give thanks to the Lord for everything, who with the power of the Holy Spirit has made you alive and generative in society, capable of loving life.

There is still a need for your commitment, especially in a season of demographic winter, of the depopulation of the most fragile areas of the country, of young people who risk being demotivated and shutting themselves away. No-one must feel neglected. The Progetto Policori was born as an ecclesial experience, and it is the fruit of the imagination of a Church that not only wants to do something for the young, but makes them the protagonists of her journey and of the future of every territory. With you, we are a Church at the service of the world, like leaven in dough.

One of the most beautiful attitudes you experience on a daily basis is that of accompaniment: the dioceses choose you and take you by the hand, and you support young people who are searching for a path in work, in the economy and in society. In this way, your commitment to responding to the employment and social crisis in southern Italy has been transformed into renewed involvement in other areas as well. It is always time to spread your enthusiasm and sensitivity to even the most resistant places and the most resigned people. Looking ahead, do not lose sight of the references that have brought you this far and that will allow you to continue your journey for a long time to come. At this moment, I would like to ideally give them back to all of you.

The compass of your commitment is the Gospel: in it lies the true power that transforms hearts and the world. Don Mario Operti, one of the creators of the Project together with Monsignor Giuseppe Pasini, wrote: “If we were so poor that we could give nothing to others, perhaps we would be more aware of the richness of the Gospel, which can truly change people’s lives and help them to walk”. [1]

A second point of reference is the social teaching of the Church. The study of social doctrine enables you to love this time, and it offers you the tools to interpret reality. Do not let yourselves be beguiled by prophets of doom who see everything as negative, but do not be so naive as to think that everything is fine. As Saint Paul teaches us: “Do not quench the Spirit, do not despise prophesying, but test everything; hold fast to what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:19-21). The centrality of the human person, the common good, solidarity, subsidiarity, the common destination of goods, participation, integral ecology and peace guide us in building a society in accordance with God’s plan of love for humanity.

The third resource is the community as an incubator for the future. Current culture tends to think of us as isolated and in competition with one another. However, work, the economy, politics and communication are not sustained by the genius of solitary leaders, but by experts in social relations. When community life grows, both in society and in the Church, then we have created the conditions for life to flourish. You will be generative whenever you care for community networks. Intelligence, talent, knowledge, social organization and hard work develop thanks to good relationships. If you dream together, if you devote time to developing shared paths, if you love your cities, you will become like the salt that gives flavour to everything (cf. Mt 5:13).

Finally, remember that you have many fathers and mothers in the Spirit, which have been points of reference for cities and territories throughout the country: they are the saints and witnesses whose social commitment has been a source of civic and charitable renewal. How can we fail to remember figures such as Francis of Assisi, on the eighth centenary of his death, Catherine of Siena, John Bosco, Bartolo Longo, Francesca Cabrini, Armida Barelli, Luigi Sturzo, Piergiorgio Frassati, Alberto Marvelli, Giorgio La Pira, Lorenzo Milani, Primo Mazzolari, Maria di Campello, Aldo Moro, Tina Anselmi, Pino Puglisi, Tonino Bello, and Annalena Tonelli? The list could go on, and this is wonderful. It is an exercise that I invite you to do: to get to know the life stories marked by the presence of the Spirit in the places where you live. Get to know them, and tell them. It is a concrete sign that God never leaves us by ourselves. He loved us, continues to love us, and does not tire of making himself present with people in flesh and blood, capable of transforming social life and of evangelizing the world of work. From them, learn courage and daily openness to Grace.

Dear friends, go forward together with confidence. Italy and Europe need you and your enthusiasm. Never cease to dream and to forge bonds with other young Europeans and with other continents who love the Church and work on her behalf in society. I follow you with hope, I remember you in my prayers, and I cordially impart my apostolic blessing to you and your families. Thank you!

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[1] M. Operti, In cammino ogni giorno. Vangelo, giovani, lavoro (“Walking every day. Gospel, youth, work”) Teramo 2020, 178.

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Holy See Press Office Bulletin, 21 February 2026