Dear Minister,
Distinguished Prefects,

I extend a cordial greeting to each one of you, and I thank you for this visit, which confirms your commitment to working together, according to your respective roles, for the good of Italian society. Your patron saint, Saint Ambrose of Milan, embodies an excellent example of the convergence between State and Church: as prefect of that great city, which was the capital of the empire, he became its bishop by acclamation, as is said. Following this rapid transition, Ambrose exercised his public functions in a new way, placing the spiritual authority with which he had been invested at the service of the people.

In late antiquity, a certain commonality between the role of the prefect and the episcopal ministry is also signified by the names and titles used to refer to both the management of public affairs and the administration of the Christian community. Both the citizens of Rome and the disciples of Jesus were organized into dioceses, or districts headed either by praetorian prefects or by episkopoi, that is, bishops, who watched over the people like good shepherds.

This historical kinship still informs your mission today, which is to serve the State by guaranteeing public order and the safety of all citizens. Our times in particular, characterized by international conflicts and tensions, highlight the importance of protecting the common good, which is irreducible to material aspects, since it relates first and foremost to the moral and spiritual heritage of the Italian Republic. These values find in civil coexistence the best conditions in which to spread and progress.

By overseeing social harmony, the Prefect contributes to safeguarding the indispensable prerequisite of the freedom and rights of citizens. The entire population benefits from this service, especially the most vulnerable groups. In fact, when the civic space is free from unrest, the poor find it easier to be welcomed, the elderly experience greater peace of mind, and services for families, the sick and young people improve, fostering a more confident outlook on the future.

Public order, therefore, does not concern only the necessary fight against crime or the prevention of harmful riots; it also requires a tenacious commitment against those forms of violence, falsehood and vulgarity that hurt the social body. On the positive side, your supervisory tasks aim to nurture social relations and build increasingly efficient agreements between central state institutions, local authorities and citizens.

In this regard, it is worth recalling a teaching of Saint Augustine, who was baptised by Saint Ambrose. The Bishop of Hippo wrote: “Those who rule serve those whom they seem to command; for they rule not from a love of power, but from a sense of the duty they owe to others” (De civitate Dei, XIX, 14). This basic principle is in line with the provisions of the Italian Constitution, which states in Article 98: “Civil servants shall be at the sole service of the Nation”. By establishing this exclusivity, the Constitution attests to the fundamental meaning of your noble service, which certainly responds to the laws of the State, but even more so to conscience, which knows, understands and applies them with firmness and fairness. On the one hand, in fact, laws are an expression of the will of the people; on the other, conscience interprets your personal humanity: both must be kept free from pressure, exercising both rigour and magnanimity as virtues well-tempered in righteous men.

You are well aware of the inner discipline required to govern and promote order in your own thoughts, before that of the Republic; for this very reason, serving the Nation means dedicating oneself with a clear mind and integrity of conscience to the community, namely, to the common good of the Italian people. In this regard, the high office you hold demands a twofold witness. The first is achieved through collaboration between the various administrative bodies and levels of the State; the second is achieved by connecting professional responsibility and conduct in life, as an example of dedication to your fellow citizens, especially the younger generations. In this regard, I hope that your authority will contribute to improving the image of the bureaucracy, cooperating to make the care of society increasingly virtuous.

Especially in emergency situations, faced with calamities and dangers, your role enables you to express fully the values of solidarity, courage and justice that honour the Italian Republic. The ethical depth of your service also distinguishes the challenges posed by new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, which are now also applied in public administration. These tools must be carefully governed, not only to protect personal data, but for the benefit of all, without elitist requisitions.

By cultivating a style of conscious, honest and active citizenship, know that you can always count on the collaboration and respect of the Church. The constructive relations you maintain with the diocesan bishops particularly favour the reception of migrants and the many forms of support for those in need, that allow us to work together on the front line, as well as the management of other practical matters such as church councils. The faith of the Christian community and the religious values it embodies thus contribute to the cultural and social growth of Italy.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, wishing each of you the best of success, I cordially bless you, your service and your families.

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Holy See Press Office Bulletin, 16 February 2026