Pope Leo XIV calls for building peace through solidarity and silence.

This Sunday, Pope Leo XIV encouraged solidarity to promote "a culture of peace" among "people, nations, and religions" during Mass at the cathedral in Albano, a town near Castel Gandolfo, where the pontiff is spending his vacation.

"By being united and sharing faith and life, we will promote a culture of peace, also helping those around us to overcome ruptures and hostilities, and to build communion among people, among nations, and among religions," the Pope said during his homily.

The pontiff arrived at the cathedral walking to applause and greeting the hundreds of faithful who had gathered in the streets of Albano (center), many of them waving Vatican flags or displaying banners, while others leaned out from the balconies of buildings.

He was also enthusiastically received by the local authorities, who had prepared the presentation of the silver plate bearing his papal coat of arms, initially planned for his inauguration as Cardinal-Bishop of Albano, an event that never took place due to his election as Pope.

"As you know, I was supposed to be here on May 12, but the Holy Spirit wanted it to be otherwise," he said with a smile before the ceremony began, in a gesture of complicity with the faithful of Albano.

During his homily, the pontiff encouraged people to take advantage of the summer to foster closeness and welcoming, as it offers "more free time, both for contemplation and meditation, as well as for meeting others, traveling, and visiting."

"Let us take advantage of all this to enjoy—away from the whirlwind of commitments and worries—a moment of tranquility and contemplation, as well as to share, by going somewhere, the joy of seeing each other, as it is for me to be here today," he said, referring to his two-week stay in Castel Gandolfo, which is scheduled to conclude this Sunday with his return to the Vatican.

The Pope asked that we find "opportunities to care for one another, to exchange experiences and ideas, to offer understanding and advice to one another" because "this makes us feel loved, and we all need it. Let us do it with courage."

He also emphasized that "service and listening" are "twin dimensions of welcome," and insisted on the importance of recovering the value of silence and prayer.

"This is a dimension of Christian life that we particularly need to recover today, both as a personal and communal value and as a prophetic sign for our times: making room for silence, for listening."

Leo XIV acknowledged that "all this requires effort" and that "neither service nor listening is always easy" because "they require tenacity and the capacity for self-sacrifice."

"It is only in this way that it is possible to build something good in life; only in this way can authentic and strong relationships be born and grow between people, and, from below, from everyday life, can the Kingdom of God grow, spread, and be experienced," he concluded.

The Mass at the Cathedral of St. Pancras was attended by some 300 faithful, including 60 sick people, whom the Pope greeted. Several hundred more followed the celebration from two squares in the historic center, one of which was equipped with a giant screen.