Pope Leo XIV received this Monday, August 24, at the Vatican Apostolic Palace the members of the Marsodeto Federation, from Toledo (Castilla-La Mancha), who made a pilgrimage to Rome on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the institution dedicated to people with intellectual disabilities and cerebral palsy and their families. During the audience, held in the Clementine Hall, the Pontiff highlighted the «solidarity, the defense of human dignity and full inclusion» that characterize their work and thanked them for the «hidden work, that no one sees and that only God can reward.»
Leo XIV recalled the founder of Marsodeto, Marcelino Casas Puente, and the purpose with which he began the institution more than four decades ago: «that no family where there was a person with an intellectual disability would be left unprotected.» The Pope linked this service with the words of Christ in the Gospel—»whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me»—and stated that recognizing Christ «in the lives of the weakest and most vulnerable» contributes to the growth of society «human and Christian.» He also recalled his recent visit to Spain and entrusted the Federation to the protection of the Virgin so that it may continue to be «a true work of ecclesial and social reference.»
Below is the complete address of the Holy Father:
ADDRESS OF THE HOLY FATHER LEO XIV
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE MARSODETO FOUNDATION (TOLEDO-SPAIN)
Clementine Hall
Monday, August 24, 2026
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Peace be with you.
Good morning and welcome to all.
Your Excellency,
distinguished authorities,
dear brothers and sisters:
It is a great joy to receive you this morning, during the pilgrimage you are making to the See of Peter, to give thanks to God for the fruitfulness of the forty-five years of your institution. I join in this special celebration and ask the Lord to continue blessing the work you are doing.
A difficult task, undoubtedly; with much hidden work, that no one sees and that only God can reward, and where it is very gratifying to discover, in the face of each person, the same Jesus Christ. From your mission you can bear witness, in a privileged way, to what we hear in the Gospel: «truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me» (Mt 25:40). Knowing how to recognize, in the lives of the weakest and most vulnerable, the gaze of Christ who challenges us, is something that makes us grow as a human and Christian society.
There are many values that characterize your way of approaching this reality of people with intellectual disabilities and cerebral palsy: solidarity, the defense of human dignity and full inclusion. For all this, you have also managed to gain the support of a large institutional representation, which accompanies you here today, thus bearing witness to its commitment to your activity and to the common good.
Looking back, we give thanks to God for the inspiration of Don Marcelino Casas Puente who, more than four decades ago, started what then seemed like a dream and which today we see as a reality: that no family where there was a person with an intellectual disability would be left unprotected.
Today, this Federation can be proud of reaching so many people, making real what I had the opportunity to recall during my recent visit to Spain: «the love of Christ impels us toward our brothers and sisters (cf. 2 Cor 5:14) and the charity and solicitude with which we respond to his impulses are the proof of our faith» (Visit to the staff and beneficiaries of the social project «CEDIA 24 hours,» June 6, 2026).
Dear brothers and sisters, I entrust you to the maternal protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary so that she may continually accompany you in your mission. May she encourage you in moments of greatest difficulty and always direct your gaze to the Lord, so that your Federation may continue to be a true work of ecclesial and social reference.
May God bless you.
Thank you very much.