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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.
È stata una gradita sorpresa la visita di Papa Francesco alla seconda edizione della Festa della famiglia, sabato 11 maggio, nel piazzale San Michele Arcangelo del Governatorato dello Stato della Città del Vaticano. Il Pontefice si è soffermato a parlare con i partecipanti all'iniziativa promossa dal Governatorato e ha salutato in modo particolare i bambini e gli anziani. Ad accoglierlo, il Cardinale Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, Presidente della Pontificia Commissione per lo Stato della Città del Vaticano e Presidente dello stesso Governatorato, Suor Raffaella Petrini, Segretario Generale, Giuseppe Puglisi-Alibrandi, Vice-Segretario Generale, e don Franco Fontana, direttore della comunità salesiana in Vaticano e cappellano della Direzione dei servizi di sicurezza e di protezione civile e dei Musei Vaticani.
The Synod is “an experience of listening and dialogue among different perspectives and attitudes”. The Synod was talked about in Houston too, during an address by the Secretary General of the Governorate of Vatican City State, to a conference aimed at business leaders, promoted by the Lumen Institute, held on Saturday morning, 26 October.
Twenty-three students from Spain, studying for the 2025 Master's Degree, organized by the Cadena de Ondas Populares Españolas, better known as Radio COPE, met with Sr. Raffaella Petrini, Secretary General of the Governorate on Friday morning, 24 January, at the Palace of the Governorate.
Christmas is always an opportunity to gather together in friendship and communion, as it is also for those who are united in their vocation and mission to preserve the artistic, historical and cultural heritage of the Vatican Museums in order to pass it on to the next generations.
Catholic higher education plays “a very important role”, because the Catholic Church “is still a credible Institution, which people trust because of her ability to be in favour of the human person and to be a mediator in seeking solutions to the more delicate problems in society and in our common life”, said Sr. Raffaella Petrini, Secretary General of the Governorate of Vatican City State, during her address at the Annual Meeting of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU), on Sunday morning, 2 February, at the Grand Hyatt Washington in the capital of the United States of America.
On 2 March 2026, in the San Pius X Hall on Via della Conciliazione in Rome, at the headquarters of the Labor Office of the Apostolic See (ULSA), a highly significant seminar on Artificial Intelligence was held. The event, organized by the Secretariat for the Economy in collaboration with ULSA, brought together experts of national and international standing to address one of the most pressing issues of our time: the potential and the challenges of AI in the cultural, technical, and ethical context.
On Thursday 20 November, the Seminar on the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Persons in the Vatican begins in the church of Mary, Mother of the Family at the Governorate, with a Holy Mass celebrated by Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, President of the Fabbrica di San Pietro.
Sister Raffaella Petrini, General Secretary of the Governorate of Vatican City State, has received an honorary degree in human sciences from Seton Hall University. The official ceremony took place during the 168th Commencement ceremony on Tuesday, 21 May, in the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, USA.
La Direzione dei Servizi di Sicurezza e Protezione Civile del Governatorato dello Stato della Città del Vaticano e l’Agenzia per la cybersicurezza nazionale della Repubblica Italiana (Acn) hanno siglato un Protocollo d’intesa sullo scambio informativo, le attività di formazione e i progetti di cybersicurezza per incrementare le capacità e competenze tecniche e scientifiche in materia di prevenzione del rischio legato alla criminalità nel cyberspazio.
The Directorate of Security and Civil Protection Services of the Governatorate of the Vatican City State and the Agency for National Cybersecurity of the Italian Republic (ACN) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the exchange of information, Training activities and cyber security projects to enhance technical and scientific skills and expertise in the prevention of cyber-crime risk.
With the official signing of the deed of gift for two new ambulances, the Governorate’s Directorate of Health and Hygiene is continuing its preparations for the upcoming Jubilee. The two emergency vehicles were donated by the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and by the Futuro Salute ETS per nuovi modelli di welfare Foundation. The official ceremony took place on Friday morning, 22 November, at the Palace of the Governorate. The deed of gift was signed by Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, President of the Governorate, and by the Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Fra’ John Dunlap, and the President of the Foundation, Mr. Roberto Favaretto.
The special “Marisa Bellisario” award, promoted by the Foundation that bears the same name, was conferred on Sister Raffaella Petrini. General Secretary of the Governorate of Vatican City State.
The award ceremony for the 36th edition was held in Rome on 14 June.
To remove surface deposits and restore the chromatic and luminous qualities intended by Michelangelo, the monumental fresco Last Judgment, preserved on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel, will undergo extraordinary maintenance. For approximately three months, Michelangelo’s masterpiece will be the focus of a cleaning intervention.
On June 20, 2025 fun, excitement and joy were the feelings expressed by dozens of children on the opening day of Estate Ragazzi in the Vatican.
Many crowded into Paul VI Hall on Monday morning, June 16, to take part in this year’s edition of the Vatican summer day camp for children. For some, it was the very first time, for others it was returning to share with old friends. For everyone, it was a mix of excitement and curiosity.
The Christmas trees in Saint Peter’s Square and in the Pontifical Villas have something in common: smart lighting. LED lights that use patented technology for mappable have been customized to create complex and creative displays that recall the stars that lit up the night in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve.
The Postal and Philatelic Service of the Directorate of Telecommunications and Information Systems of the Governorate of the Vatican City State has issued a special postal cancellation on the 225th anniversary of the dies natalis of Blessed Diego José de Cádiz, on Tuesday, March 24.
Over 700 people attended a concert by the Musical Band of the Gendarmerie Corps of Vatican City State, to celebrate the 1850th anniversary of the martyrdom of Saint Pontian, Patron Saint of Spoleto. Held on Saturday evening, 12 January, in the Umbrian town’s Teatro Nuovo “G. Menotti”, the concert was attended by Archbishop Renato Boccardo of Spoleto-Norcia, promoter of the event, and by civil and military authorities. The concert began with the Papal Anthem and concluded with the Italian National Anthem. The musicians were conducted by Maestro Stefano Iannilli, assisted by Mr. Mauro Colaiacomo, Deputy Commissioner of the Gendarmerie Corps, responsible for discipline and recruitment. The program included performances of the anthem for the 2025 Jubilee, by Sequeri, The Thieving Magpie, by Rossini, La Tregenda, from the opera Le Villi, Nessun Dorma, by Puccini, Ride of the Valkyries,by Wagner, Bugler’s Holiday,by Anderson, Viktor’s Tale from William’s film, The Terminal, the soundtrack of Metti una sera a cena, by Morricone and Modugno’s Nel blu dipinto di blu.
The Secretary General of the Governorate, Sr. Raffaella Petrini, has attended the 142nd Supreme Convention of the Knights of Columbus, held in Québec City, Canada, from 6 to 8 August.
Among the many activities detailed in his annual report at the Convention, the Supreme Knight, Patrick E. Kelly, mentioned the Knights Of Columbus’ funding for the restoration of the bronze Baldachin in Saint Peter’s Basilica. The Directorate of Museums and Cultural Heritage cooperates with the Fabric of Saint Peter in all diagnostic examinations and in the development of methods of intervention.
Sr. Raffaella Petrini, Secretary General of the Governorate of Vatican City State, will lead a State Delegation at the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA-24), scheduled to be held in New Delhi, India, from 15 to 24 October 2024. During the Assembly, which will meet after the Global Standard Symposium (GSS-24), which will take place on 14 October, Sr. Petrini will deliver an official address.
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