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Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, President of the Governorate of Vatican City State, concludes Marian Month in the Vatican Gardens

Like many small flames before the Heart of Mary

Hundreds of tiny flames, like many pleas brought before the Heart of Mary so they may reach her Son’s Heart, lit a long procession through the Vatican Gardens on Friday evening, 31 May. The procession ended at the Grotta di Lourdes. A large number of faithful participated in the recital of the Rosary, surrounded by the light of the flambeaux, and listened to the concluding reflection of Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, President of the Governorate of Vatican City State.

May Artificial Intelligence continue to develop in such a way as to reduce inequality and injustice

Address of Sister Raffaella Petrini’, Head of the Holy See delegation to the International Telecommunication Union’s WSIS+20 Forum High-Level Event 2024, held in Geneva.

There is an urgent need to outline a framework to regulate Artificial Intelligence, one developed by experts from various areas and sectors, who can assess potential developments, benefits and risks, said Sister Raffaella Petrini, General Secretary of the Governorate of Vatican City State, and head of the Holy See’s Delegation, during a ministerial round table discussion of the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) WSIS+20 Forum High-Level Event 2024, on the theme: “The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Action Lines and the WSIS+20 review process”. The High-Level Event took place on Tuesday, 28 May in Geneva, Switzerland.

Second Feast of the Family, an event promoted by the Governorate

Pope Francis’ visit

Pope Francis’ visit to the  2nd Feast of the Family, held on Saturday, 11 May, in San Michele Arcangelo Square in Vatican City State’s Governorate, was a welcome surprise. The Pontiff paused to speak to participants on the feast day promoted by the Governorate, and offered a special greeting to children and the elderly. He was welcomed by Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, President of the Pontifical Commission of Vatican City State and President of the Governorate, by Sister Raffaella Petrini, General Secretary, by Giuseppe Puglisi-Alibrandi, Vice General Secretary, and by Father Franco Fontana, Director of the Community of Salesians in the Vatican and chaplain of the Directorate of Security and Civil Protection Services and of the Vatican Museums.

General Secretary participates in the inauguration of the photographic exhibition titled, “Changes”, hosted in the Charlemagne Wing

A call to protect creation

The exhibition’s 24 photographs portrayed the contrast between the beauty of Creation and the damages caused by climate change to nature and to peoples throughout the world. Curated by Lia and Marianna Beltrami in cooperation with the Dicastery for Communication, the Dicastery for Integral Human Development and the Laudato Si’ Centre for Higher Education, the photographs, which were exhibited in the Charlemagne Wing of Saint Peter’s Square, were part of the project, “Emotions to Generate Change”. The exhibition was open to the public from 7 to 24 May.