In a society of increased indifference, a group of young people associated with the Sovereign Military Order of Malta is living out concretely Pope Leo XIV’s call to “not let our guard down when it comes to poverty.”
Every Tuesday, the youth group of the Rome chapter of the order and other volunteers gather near St. Peterʼs Square to provide food to the homeless. The young professionals and students ranging from 20 to 30 years old dedicate one evening a week of their busy lives to help those less fortunate.
The youth organization is simple: a group of around 10-15 young people meet at 8:30 p.m. in Piazza della Città Leonina, say a short prayer, and walk around the corner to St. Peter’s Square and Via della Conciliazione, the main thoroughfare leading to St. Peter’s Basilica, to offer “brodo” (broth), coffee, a piece of fruit, and snacks — accompanied by a smile — to those in need. The food is provided by the volunteers and distributed in and around the square, where recipients can choose what they want to receive.
The head of the youth group, Luigi Salvaggi, told EWTN News that “faith and prayer lead us to put ourselves in the background.”
It is “a moral but deeply concrete duty [to serve the poor], which is fundamental both for our lives as believers and for the good of society,” he said.
‘Faith and prayer lead us to put ourselves in the background’
The youth who take part by donating their time highlight their love for the poor — a love that demands action.
Salvaggi said “the goal of the youth group is … to communicate the spirit of the Order [of Malta], helping people understand the profound reasons that drive our work.”
The Sovereign Order of Malta is one of the oldest institutions of Western and Christian civilization. Founded as a religious order of the Catholic Church in 1113, its origins trace back to the hospitals during the Crusades in the Holy Land. Since its foundation, it has been dedicated to serving people in need from diverse faiths: Muslim, Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and others.
According to its website, the Order of Malta is active in 130 countries, caring for people in need through medical, social, and humanitarian work. Across the world, the Order of Malta is dedicated to the preservation of human dignity and the care of all those in need, regardless of their origin or religion.
Influenced by his parents, Salvaggi learned from a young age that “our charitable work has a profound religious vocation.” He said the reason he decided “to actively commit myself to charitable work is precisely this strong bond between prayer and action.”
As Pope Leo XIV pointed out in Dilexi Te: “This is not a matter of mere human kindness but a revelation: contact with those who are lowly and powerless is a fundamental way of encountering the Lord of history. In the poor, he continues to speak to us.”
A sentiment shared by all the volunteers is the practice not only of service and duty but also of encounter with those in need. “In our own small way,” Salvaggi added, “it is enough for us to be sincere and act because we believe in what we do.”