Italian Catholics plan prayer service for Pope Leo XIV at St. Patrick’s Cathedral

Italian Catholics and allied institutions will gather Wednesday at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York for Mass and a musical performance, shifting a previously planned 9/11 remembrance toward prayer for Pope Leo XIV after news of his hospitalization. The event is intended to unite the Italian community in a public appeal for the pope’s health.

Why it matters: - The gathering turns a 25th-anniversary 9/11 remembrance into a broader public moment for prayer tied to Pope Leo XIV’s health. - The event brings together Italian Catholics, New York-based supporters and visiting Italian institutions during a week of high-profile Italian American activities. - The shift underscores the symbolic weight St. Patrick’s Cathedral can carry for public religious solidarity in New York.

What happened: - Father Luigi Portarulo was scheduled to celebrate Mass on Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 2 p.m. ET at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Fifth Avenue in New York. - The Mass was originally set to honor the 414 Italian victims of 9/11 at the request of the E-novation Foundation. - After news that Pope Leo XIV had been hospitalized, Massimo Lucidi, president of the foundation, issued an appeal for collective prayer for the pope’s health. - The program also includes a musical performance.

The details: - Father Luigi Portarulo serves in youth pastoral care and ministry to the Italian community. - Lucidi said the Church in Rome and New York should remain places where people seek answers to everyday fears and challenges. - Lucidi said, “This American Pope is truly extraordinary, and we need him. Get well soon, Pope Leo.” - Italian institutions in New York for Columbus Day celebrations are joining the initiative. - Those groups are also headed to Washington, D.C., on Friday for the Italian Excellence Award ceremony. - Foundation vice presidents greeting participants include New York philanthropist Azzurra Rinaldi, Sabrina Gianforte and Alberto Patruno. - Gianforte leads the Stati Generali dell’Accoglienza, or General Assembly on Hospitality and Inclusion. - Patruno also serves as director general of Assoimpredia.

Between the lines: - The event blends remembrance, faith and community organizing in a way that broadens its reach beyond a single ceremonial Mass. - The emphasis on Pope Leo XIV reflects both concern over his hospitalization and the strong identification of some Italian Catholics with the new pope. - The invitation also shows how Italian American civic and religious networks can move quickly to reframe public events around breaking news.

What's next: - The Mass and prayer gathering are scheduled for Wednesday afternoon at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. - Visiting Italian institutions are expected to continue on to Washington later in the week for the Italian Excellence Award ceremony. - The foundation and its supporters are likely to present the event as both a memorial observance and a show of solidarity for the pope.