Karol Darmoros, Benedetta Capelli
Launch of the initiative
On Tuesday, April 28, the Papal Almoner Archbishop Luis Marín de San Martín handed over the keys to the Popemobile to the president of the organization Michele Sagarino. A day later, she met with Pope Leo XIV after the general audience. This symbolically launched the project „American Catholic Heroes: The Road Trip for Hope”.
Road of hope
The vehicle, named “Hopemobile”, will cover almost 6,000 kilometers – from New York to California, visiting 13 cities. The event will be accompanied by prayer meetings and charity events, including an auction, the proceeds of which will support aid for children affected by war.
Mission and aid
“Love, which is the foundation of Christian life, cannot remain in theory, but must be realized in action, becoming service” – emphasized Archbishop Marín de San Martín. He also expressed gratitude to the Cross Catholic Outreach organization, which has long cooperated with and supported the Dicastery for the Service of Charity.
The organization has been operating for almost 25 years, and in 2024 alone, it implemented projects in 32 countries, including Malawi, Zambia, and Haiti, providing food, water, education, and spiritual support.
The poor at the center
The project was approved by Pope Francis. As Holy Father Leo XIV reminds us in the exhortation “Dilexi te”: “The poorest of the poor – those who lack not only material goods but also a voice and recognition of their dignity – hold a special place in God’s heart. They are the beloved of the Gospel, heirs of the Kingdom.”
The Popemobile will thus become not only a symbol of papal presence but, above all, a mobile sign of solidarity with the most vulnerable.
