The new premises of the Vatican Inspectorate Immigration Office have been inaugurated

Ribbon cutting for the new premises of the immigration office of the Vatican Inspectorate, in via del Mascherino 18 in Rome. The renovated seat, which is now also equipped with a spacious waiting room, was inaugurated by Monsignor Nunzio Galantino, president of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See and by the head of the Vatican PS Inspectorate, Luigi Carnevale, in the presence of Sister Raffaella Petrini, secretary general of the Governorate of the Vatican City State, Matteo Piantedosi, prefect of Rome, Mario Della Cioppa, quaestor of Rome and Francesco Di Nitto, ambassador of Italy to the Holy See. The premises were made available by the administration of the patrimony of the Apostolic See. The Office, in close collaboration with the immigration office of the Rome Police Headquarters, is responsible for issuing residence permits for foreign religious and lay people who ask to reside in the capital for religious vocation or for study reasons. “We are here to ask the Lord to accompany this service with kindness and there is no need to ask for luck – said Monsignor Galantino – There are commitments that if we take them together they work, if everyone goes by himself we don’t go anywhere”. “As a Holy See, I have made these premises available also because when I pass here I am ashamed and so I did it so as not to be ashamed anymore”, he added referring to the long lines that were created in the street in front of the immigration office. “It is a gesture of attention for the many people who are in Rome for study or for service”, he concluded. “This office has existed since 1945 – said Carnevale – In recent years we have gone on increasing our tasks but we have always had the support of the Vatican authorities, spaces and needs have always been increasing. Even during the pandemic, when we found ourselves alone in St. Peter’s Square because there was no shadow of a tourist, we have had assistance never seen before “. “We are witnesses of teamwork – he said – the obscure and silent work that does not come to the fore in the newspapers that these policemen do serves to increase and maintain relations with the Vatican authorities and improve our diplomatic relations. The welcome is the same for everyone, from the last of the students of the Catholic school who arrives from a distant country to the best-known cardinal. Our style is that of a smile thanks also to teamwork with the police headquarters and the prefecture, with the Italian embassy to the Holy See but also with other colleagues of the other police forces and traffic police “.