"The mission you fulfill with admirable apostolic zeal is very precious,” said the Holy Father on receiving the Italian group Circolo San Pietro, on Friday.

“By going out to help the poor, bringing aid to the sick and suffering, you witnessin a concrete way to that "'creativity in charity' to which I invited people in the Apostolic Letter 'Novo Millennio Ineunte'."

In thanking them for their solidarity with the poor and their annual donation to Peter´s Pence, the Holy Father said that their commitment was "animated by a convinced fidelity and adhesion to the Successor of Peter,” and nourished “every day in prayer and listening to the Word of God.” He added that “the secret of the efficacy of our every prayer is fidelity to Christ."