The year 2025 marks the LXXV anniversary of the proclamation of the Faithful Virgin, Virgo fidelis, as Patroness of the Carabinieri Force. In 1949, precisely from Castel Gandolfo, Pope Pius XII “accepted this beautiful proposal of the General Command of the Corps”. This was recalled this morning by Pope Leo XIV during the celebration in the Chapel of the Castel Gandolfo Carabinieri Station. “After the tragedy of the war, in a period of moral and material reconstruction,” the Pope said, "Mary's fidelity to God thus became a model of the fidelity of every Carabiniere to the Homeland and the Italian people. This virtue expresses the dedication, purity, and constancy of commitment to the common good, which the Carabinieri protect by guaranteeing public safety and defending the rights of all, especially those in dangerous conditions". Leo XIV expressed, therefore, "profound gratitude for the noble and demanding service that the Carabinieri render to Italy and its citizens, as well as in favor of the Holy See and the faithful who visit Rome: I am thinking especially of the many pilgrims in this jubilee year. Devotion to the Faithful Virgin also reflects the motto of the Carabinieri, “Faithful in the centuries”, expressing the sense of duty and self-sacrifice of every member of the Corps, even to the point of self-sacrifice. So I thank the civil and military authorities for what you do in the performance of your duties: in the face of injustice, which wounds the social order, do not give in to the temptation to think that evil can have it. Especially in this time of war and violence, remain faithful to your oath: as servants of the State, respond to crime with the force of law and honesty. This is how the Carabinieri Corps, the “Benemerita”, will always deserve the esteem of the Italian people". The Pope then wished to commemorate the Carabinieri who gave their lives "doing their duty: I entrust to you the venerable Salvo D'Acquisto, gold medal for military valor, whose cause for beatification is underway, as an example. In every mission, may the Virgo fidelis accompany you, watching lovingly over each of you, your families and your work". Then, commenting on the day's readings, the Pontiff said that every “relationship that God lives, in himself and for us, becomes a gift: when his only Son becomes our brother, his Father becomes our Father, and the Holy Spirit, who unites the Father and the Son, comes to dwell in our hearts”.