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  • Azerbaijan donated a Pomegranate Tree in the Vatican Gardens

    A Sign of Friendship 

    As a symbolic gesture of friendship between the Vatican City State and the Republic of Azerbaijan, a pomegranate tree was planted in the Vatican Gardens. The occasion was the visit of H.E. Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva, First Vice-President of Azerbaijan.

  • Basilica of San Vitale: Concert by the Musical Band of the Gendarmerie Corps

    The Musical Band of the Gendarmerie Corps will perform in concert on Wednesday, at 7:30 p.m., in the Roman Basilica of San Vitale at the Quirinale, as part of the musical series Sacrae Militiae Sonus.


    The Band—conducted by Maestro Stefano Iannilli and coordinated by Deputy Commissioner of the Gendarmerie Mauro Colaiacomo, will be accompanied by the Giovani Don Bosco choir, directed by Veronica Piscitelli.

  • Benedictine nuns of the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican pray for Pope Francis’ recovery

    The six Benedictine nuns who reside in the Vatican’s Mater Ecclesiae Monastery have been praying for Pope Francis’ recovery, ever since he entered Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.

  • Bishop Vincenzo Viva, presides over the Solemnity of Saint Clare of Assisi at the Poor Clare Monastery in Albano

    A calling that sets one on the journey

    A calling that becomes contagious—that of Saint Clare of Assisi—when, in San Damiano, even her mother Ortolana and her sister Beatrice embraced the same form of life. This is confirmation that it was not an isolated choice but rather “a calling that even today sets us on the journey, if we listen to it—a calling that provokes processes of inner transformation”.Thus spoke the Bishop of Albano, Monsignor Vincenzo Viva, as he presided over the concelebrated Eucharist on the feast of Saint Clare of Assisi, Monday afternoon, August 11, at the Monastery of the Immaculate Conception of the Poor Clares, located within the territory of the Pontifical Villas. The latter are administered by the Governorate of Vatican City State.

  • Blessing of Lithuanian Cross in the Vatican Gardens

    During a ceremony on Monday morning, 3 March, Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas, Coadjutor Archpriest of the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major blessed a wooden Lithuanian Cross in the Vatican Gardens.

  • Blessing of the Statue of the Virgin Mary Rosa Mystica

    A statue of Mary Rosa Mystica (Mystic Rose) was blessed in the Vatican on Monday, April 14, by Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. The ceremony was attended by Archbishop Emilio Nappa, Secretary General of the Governorate of the Vatican City State, along with the two Secretaries of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Monsignor John Joseph Kennedy and Father Armando Matteo. 

  • Cardinal Cupich leads the Illinois Chapter of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums’ visit to the Vatican

    The restoration of tunic, a treasure of the Sancta Sanctorum

    A generous new contribution from the Illinois Chapter of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums has permitted the restoration of a tunic of the Sancta Sanctorum, which held the most ‘sacred’ relics of Christianity.

  • Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga bestowed with the Order of the Quetzal of Guatemala

    A sign of friendship between the Vatican and Guatemala

    Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, President of the Pontifical Commission of Vatican City State and President of the Governorate, has been awarded with the highest national honour of Guatemala, the Order of the Quetzal. The award ceremony was held on Thursday morning, 20 June, in the Palace of the Governorate. Guatemalan Minister, Ambassador Carlos Ramiro Martínez Alvarado, and Alfredo Vásquez Rivera, Ambassador of Guatemala to the Holy See, attended the ceremony as representatives of the Guatemalan government.

  • Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga blesses a mosaic of Our Lady of Peace, in the Vatican Gardens

    Act of Entrustment to Mary

    A Korean presence in the Vatican Gardens to implore Mary for universal peace is the hope with which a mosaic of Our Lady of Peace Korean was blessed in the Vatican Gardens. The ceremony took place on Friday afternoon, 20 September, during the liturgical memorial of the Martyrs, Saint Andrew Kim Tae-gon, the first ordained priest of Korea, Saint Paul Chông Hasang and their companions.

  • Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga celebrates Holy Mass with employees of the Directorate of Telecommunications and Information Systems

    With friendship and cooperation

    He was known to everyone as “Father Fernando”, as he had not yet been created Cardinal. The then Father Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, joined the Directorate of Telecommunications, now known as the Directorate of Telecommunications and Information Systems, as Director in January 2008.

    Remembering this bond, the employees and managers of the Directorate wished to greet him, by sharing a Eucharist celebration, on Thursday morning, 27 March, at the Governorate’s Church of Mary, Mother of the Family, presided by the Cardinal.

  • Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga presides at a Eucharistic Concelebration in Saint Peter’s Basilica for Vatican employees, ahead of Christmas

    We are all chosen by God, like Mary

    “We too, like Mary, were chosen by God to embody his kindness, his tenderness, his mercy. He needs our hands to continue his work and our lips to announce his message”, highlighted Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, President of the Governorate of Vatican City State, on Friday morning, 20 December, as he celebrated Holy Mass for Vatican employees at the Altar of the Chair in Saint Peter’s Basilica, in preparation for the Solemnity of Christmas.

  • Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga presides over Eucharistic concelebration to mark his farewell and the beginning of the presidency of Sr. Raffaella Petrini

    In continuity and harmony, at the service of the Successor of Peter

    Sometimes words alone are not enough to express what one feels within, when one’s service to the Pope, to the Hoy See and to the Governorate ends, after 53 years. The farewell becomes imbued with feelings, memories and affection, as occurred during the farewell ceremony of Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State and President of the Governorate, until 28 February. Having completed his 80th birthday, he wished to step down by celebrating Holy Mass on Monday morning, 3 March, in the Church of Mary, Mother of the Family.

  • 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.

  • Cardinal Giovanni Lajolo inaugurates in the Vatican Gardens the statue of Our Lady of Peace of La Vang Vietnam

    A sign of loyalty to the Successor of Peter from Vietnamese Catholics  

    The presence of a statue of Our Lady of La Vang, near the Tomb of the Apostle Peter in the Vatican City, is a sign of the loyalty of Vietnamese Catholics to Christ, to the Pope, and to the Church. Our Lady of La Vang is venerated with the title of Our Lady of Peace. It is with this objective that a statue of her was placed near the Jubilee Bell in the Vatican Gardens.

  • Cardinal Vérgez Alzaga presides over ceremony in which 49 employees made their profession of faith and took their oath of fidelity, at the Church of Mary, Mother of the Family

    The profession of faith and the oath of fidelity are two important events in the lives of the employees of the Governorate, which occur after they are hired  on a trial basis. Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, President of the Governorate of Vatican City State, presided at the so-called swearing ceremony on Thursday morning, 13 February, in the Governorate’s Church of Mary, Mother of the Family. Also present were Sister Raffaella Petrini, Secretary General of the Governorate, and a number of Directors.

  • Cardinal Vérgez Alzaga presides over Day 7 of the Immaculate Conception Novena in the Basilica of the Twelve Holy Apostles

    The Magnificat according to Blessed Cardinal Pironio

    The mystery of Mary is a mystery of “spoliation and annihilation, of hiddenness and littleness, of humility and service”, said Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, President of the Governorate of Vatican City State, presiding over day 7 of the Immaculate Conception Novena, on Thursday evening, 5 December, in Rome’s Basilica of the Twelve Holy Apostles. A Eucharistic Concelebration was celebrated in the Basilica cared for by the Order of Friars Minor Conventual, prior to the recital of the Rosary and the litanies.

  • Cardinal Vérgez Alzaga presides over Eucharistic Concelebration for employees of the Directorate for Infrastructures and Services

    I will remember you in my prayers and in the sacrifice of Mass

    On Friday morning, 21 February, Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, President of the Governorate of Vatican City State, presided at Holy Mass for the employees of the Directorate for Infrastructures and Services. He made two promises: “I will carry you in my heart” and “I will remember you in my prayers and in the daily sacrifice of Mass”.

  • Cardinal Vérgez Alzaga to inaugurate the Exhibition, “Bernini’s Souls”

    Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, President of the Governorate of Vatican City State, and H.E. Ms. María Isabel Celaá Diéguez, Ambassador of Spain to the Holy See, will inaugurate an exhibition titled, “Bernini’s Souls” at the Pinacoteca of the Vatican Museums on Tuesday, 19 November.

  • Charging stations for electric vehicles and plug-in electric vehicles to be installed in the Vatican Car Park by the start of the Jubilee

    Accessible to holders of “employee” and “services” badges

    Work has begun on the installation of charging stations for electric vehicles and plug-in electric vehicles in the Vatican car park (Petriano). Ten charging stations with 20 ports will be available for “fast” charging, while an additional charging station with two ports for “ultra-fast” charging, will be installed beside the entrance to the Paul VI Hall. The installation of the charging stations is expected to be completed within three months, and be operational by the beginning of the Jubilee year.

  • Charging stations in Vatican City activated for state and private electric vehicles

    The "Ecological Conversion 2035" program, launched in 2022 and aimed at reducing CO2 emissions to zero, has accomplished another important goal: Starting June 16, charging stations for electric vehicles owned by the State and private ones belonging to employees of the Governorate and the Holy See will be available at the Petriano parking lot by the Sant’Uffizio (20 "fast" charging points on 10 columns and two "ultra-fast" charging points on an additional column).

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