Pope Francis on February 8, 2020, praised the efforts of security officials who serve the Vatican.
His comments came when he received the Executives and Agents of the Inspectorate of Public Security at the Vatican in an audience in the Vatican Apostolic Palace. He noted that their work in an environment of so many tourists and visitors requires not just professionalism but «sincere love and faithful attachment to the Holy See.»
«Your service to the Holy See and to the Vatican City State has a special meaning and value,» the Holy Father said. «It is not easy to relate every day with tourists and pilgrims who visit the Square and St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums, or who come to meet the Pope. In a variety of situations, you are called to combine their needs with the indispensable rules public order and the peaceful development of life around the Vatican City and places sacred to the Catholic faith.
«And your work is equally important on the occasion of my pastoral visits to Rome and Italy, wherever the exercise of the ministry leads me. Now many times I have been able to see for yourself your discreet presence as attentive and effective! This I want to underline: discreet; effective and careful, but discreet. And this says the high human level. For this, thank you very much.»
