VATICAN CITY — As reported by Thaddeus Jones for Vatican News, on Good Shepherd Sunday , Pope Leo XIV stood before an estimated 100,000 pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square to lead the recitation of the Regina Caeli , delivering a heartfelt message that emphasized prayer for vocations , a life of service , and the importance of walking together “in love and truth.”

The occasion marked both the World Day of Prayer for Vocations and the closing day of the Jubilee pilgrimage of musicians and entertainers , bringing together people from over 90 countries . From the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Leo greeted the faithful with warmth and joy, describing the Sunday Gospel — which presents Jesus as the Good Shepherd — as a “gift from God” on the first Good Shepherd Sunday of his pontificate.

‘A Gift from God’: Good Shepherd Sunday

Reflecting on the Gospel reading, the Pope said it was deeply meaningful that this Sunday, dedicated to Christ the Shepherd, coincided with his early days as Bishop of Rome.

“Jesus reveals himself as the true Shepherd who knows and loves his sheep and gives his life for them,” he said. “This image reminds us of the mission of every shepherd in the Church — to serve, to guide, and to lay down one’s life for others.”

He encouraged priests, religious, and lay faithful alike to reflect on how they are called to be shepherds in their own vocations — whether in marriage, ministry, or consecrated life.

A Renewed Appeal for Vocations

Turning to the theme of vocations, Pope Leo reminded the crowd that the Church has a “great need” for priests and those consecrated to religious life. He urged communities to offer young people discerning a vocation the support, encouragement, and spiritual accompaniment they need to respond generously to God’s call.

“We must all play our part,” he said, “by creating environments where vocations can grow — places of listening, acceptance, and witness.” He also thanked the many laypeople, families, and parish communities who help nurture these calls.

His words echoed the message of Pope Francis for this year’s World Day of Prayer for Vocations, which emphasized the importance of welcoming and accompanying young people on their journey of discernment.

“Let us ask the Lord to help us live in service to one another,” the Pope said, “so we may be capable of helping each other walk in love and truth.”

Encouraging Words for Young People

Addressing young people directly, Pope Leo offered a powerful encouragement:

“Do not be afraid! Accept the invitation of the Church and of Christ the Lord!”

He reminded them that Mary, whose entire life was a response to God’s call, is the perfect model of faithfulness and courage in saying “yes” to the unknown.

“May the Virgin Mary, whose entire life was a response to the Lord’s call, always accompany us in following Jesus,” he concluded.

Jubilee of Music and Popular Entertainment

Earlier in the day, Pope Leo greeted participants in the Jubilee of Bands and Popular Entertainment , thanking them for their music and performances that “enliven the feast of Christ the Good Shepherd.”

He praised their role in bringing joy and beauty to the liturgical celebrations and affirmed the importance of art and culture in evangelization.

“You remind us that beauty is a path to holiness,” he told the jubilant crowd.

A Message for the Whole Church

In his brief but moving address, Pope Leo XIV issued a call not only to future priests and religious, but to all the faithful — to live lives rooted in service, humility, and mutual support.

As the Regina Caeli echoed across St. Peter’s Square, the Holy Father left the faithful with a challenge: to become more attentive to the needs of others, more open to God’s voice, and more willing to walk together in love — just as the Good Shepherd leads His flock.

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William E. Swing is a man whose quiet yet powerful presence has shaped the landscape of interfaith cooperation across the globe. As the founder of the United Religions Initiative (URI), he has dedicated his life to the idea that faith, far from being a source of division, can be a catalyst for peace, justice, and understanding. Swing’s work has created lasting changes in the way the world’s religions interact, bringing together people from diverse traditions to work toward common goals. His influence, while subtle, is profound, and his vision has given rise to a movement that continues to grow today.

Born on August 26, 1936, in Huntington, West Virginia, William Swing grew up in a family where intellectual curiosity and spirituality were highly valued. His father, a professor at the University of California, encouraged him to pursue both academic and spiritual endeavors, setting the foundation for his later work. Though Swing initially embarked on a career in law, he felt a deep, inner calling to the church. It wasn’t long before he joined the Episcopal seminary and was ordained as a priest, eventually rising to the rank of bishop.

In 1979, Swing became the Bishop of California. His tenure in this role would prove to be a pivotal moment in both his personal life and the broader interfaith movement. During his time as bishop, Swing became increasingly aware of the divisions between religious communities, even in his diverse home state. California, known for its melting pot of cultures and faiths, was a microcosm of the global religious landscape, where conflict and misunderstanding between faiths were often more pronounced than unity. He recognized that the world’s faith communities had the potential to be a force for good, but that they needed to find a way to break down the walls of intolerance that divided them.

The key turning point in Swing’s life came in 1993, when he was invited by the United Nations to organize an interfaith service at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco to mark the 50th anniversary of the signing of the United Nations Charter. It was during this service that Swing had a profound epiphany: he realized that the world’s religions needed a unified platform for cooperation—one that could work to address global issues such as war, poverty, and human rights, and unite faith communities for the common good.

This insight led to the creation of the United Religions Initiative (URI), which was officially founded in 2000. The organization’s mission was simple yet profound: to promote peace, justice, and healing through interfaith cooperation. Swing envisioned URI as a global network of people from diverse religious backgrounds, coming together not only for dialogue but for action. The goal was not simply to talk about peace, but to work together to make it a reality.

What distinguished URI from other interfaith organizations was its grassroots approach. Rather than being a top-down organization run by a few central figures, URI was built on the idea of “cooperation circles”—local groups of people from various religious traditions who would come together to tackle common problems in their communities. These circles would focus on local issues such as environmental protection, poverty alleviation, and conflict resolution, and would serve as the backbone of the URI movement. By empowering people at the local level, Swing created an organization that was both decentralized and adaptable, capable of responding to the unique needs of different regions while still maintaining a unified vision.

Under Swing’s leadership, URI quickly expanded, growing into a global movement with thousands of cooperation circles in more than 100 countries. Swing’s vision resonated with religious leaders and individuals from all walks of life, from Buddhists in Asia to Muslims in the Middle East, from Christians in Africa to Hindus in India. Through URI, Swing gave people a platform to not only talk about their differences but to celebrate their shared values, working together to address the common challenges facing humanity.

One of the defining features of Swing’s leadership was his commitment to inclusivity. He believed that all religious and spiritual paths—whether rooted in formal religious traditions or in indigenous spirituality—were valid expressions of the divine. This openness became a hallmark of URI, as the organization sought to create a space where people from different faiths, secular humanists, and spiritual but not religious individuals could come together as equals. In his view, it was essential to foster an environment where no faith was considered superior to another, and where all paths were honored as legitimate routes to understanding the divine.

Swing’s leadership also took him into the heart of global religious dialogue. He worked to bring together religious leaders from communities long at odds with one another. For instance, in the Middle East, he facilitated conversations between Christian and Muslim leaders, helping to build bridges in a region where religious conflict had led to generations of strife. Similarly, in Africa, he worked to create dialogue between Christian and Muslim communities in regions plagued by sectarian violence. Swing’s approach was always based on the principle of mutual respect, and he emphasized the importance of listening to one another’s experiences and understanding the common ground that existed between different faiths.

While URI’s work had a profound impact on the global religious community, it was not without its challenges. In many parts of the world, religious leaders and communities resisted the idea of interfaith cooperation, seeing it as a threat to their own religious identity. Swing was often met with skepticism and opposition, especially from those who saw dialogue as a dilution of faith rather than a way to strengthen it. But Swing remained undeterred, seeing resistance as part of the process. “The road to peace is never easy,” he often said. “But it’s the only road worth traveling.”

In 2016, after nearly two decades of leadership, Swing stepped down as president of URI. Though he retired from his official role, his work did not end. Swing continued to lecture, write, and advocate for interfaith cooperation, believing that the work of religious unity was a long-term effort that would take generations to fully realize. His impact on the interfaith movement remains immense, and his vision for URI continues to guide the organization today.

Swing’s belief in the power of religious cooperation is perhaps best summed up in a remark he made in one of his final speeches as president of URI: “If we are to survive as a species, we must find ways to work together. And faith can be the foundation for that cooperation.” In a world often torn by religious and cultural divisions, Swing’s work serves as a powerful reminder of the potential for faith to be a force for unity rather than conflict.

Through his leadership of URI, Swing has helped to create a legacy of peacebuilding and religious cooperation that will outlast his tenure. His vision—that faith can be a powerful tool for promoting understanding and building a more just and peaceful world—continues to inspire people across the globe. William E. Swing has shown us that when we come together, not in spite of our differences, but because of them, we can create a world that is far stronger and more compassionate than any one of us could ever hope to build alone.

According to Baldelli, the most rewarding aspect of entrepreneurship lies in the constant evolution and problem-solving required. “I see it through the lens of experience—the adventure, the ups and downs, and the challenges I face. The problems we encounter every day are always new, complex, and unexplored. This is what makes it truly unique and fulfilling.”

These challenges span every facet of business development: identifying market needs, articulating value propositions, finding customers, determining pricing strategies, managing talent, and striving to create a meaningful impact—all while navigating the cutting-edge field of Generative AI.

When asked for advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, Baldelli offers a candid perspective on the entrepreneurial journey: “There’s no advice that can truly prepare anyone to start. This is such a life-changing choice that no tips, no motivational talk, can push you to do it unless you are fully determined to try it with everything you have.”

He emphasizes that entrepreneurship demands sacrifices in pursuit of a vision—”the belief that you can create something lasting, something meaningful, that will make a difference for people.”

As LEVELS continues to evolve, the company remains committed to scaling its Generative AI offerings, expanding its SaaS platform capabilities, and fostering continuous innovation. By combining groundbreaking technology with top talent in the field, LEVELS aims to spearhead a future where Generative AI fundamentally transforms how businesses operate and grow across global industries and markets.

Find out more here

EIT Food, in partnership with SkyHive by Cornerstone and a consortium of leading partners from the EU-funded GEEK4Food project, has launched the G4F Skills Platform. 

The platform aims to connect learners, workers, employers, educators, and soon policymakers, offering tools and resources to help drive sustainability and innovation within the food industry.

AI-Powered Learning for Career Development

Leveraging technology from SkyHive by Cornerstone, the G4F Skills Platform empowers individuals and organizations to stay ahead of industry trends and enhance their skills. By focusing on continuous learning, the platform supports the development of a more skilled workforce that can meet the evolving demands of the agri-food sector.

Powered by SkyHive by Cornerstone, the platform offers a dynamic, AI-driven experience that helps individuals at all stages of their careers whether upskilling, reskilling, or transitioning to track and develop their skills and discover new career and learning opportunities. Users can access tailored learning paths, identify skill gaps, and receive personalized insights to future-proof their career paths in the evolving agri-food sector.

The agri-food sector requires a specific set of skills and knowledge that are vital to retain, retrain and continually upskill not only for the industry, but the greater population who benefit from their work. Leveraging SkyHive by Cornerstone’s technology will allow individuals, employers, educators and policymakers the benefit of identifying gaps, closing these gaps with the necessary training and making critical talent projection decisions to meet the needs of the sector

Mohan Reddy, VP of Engineering, SkyHive by Cornerstone

The platform equally benefits employers, educators, and policymakers as the agri-food sector shifts from a role-based to a skills-based labor market. Automation, AI, and data-driven agriculture are transforming food production, and the rising demand for sustainability calls for expertise in areas like environmental management and sustainable farming. Meanwhile, younger workers increasingly expect more flexible, dynamic roles across various areas of expertise.

For employers, this shift means the need to identify the precise skills required for emerging roles in food systems, enabling them to match talent with the right opportunities. For education providers, it requires a rethinking of curricula and training programs to ensure that they are equipping learners with the skills the industry urgently needs.

Policymakers will soon be able to access real-time data on agri-food skills and labor market trends in Europe, empowering them to shape evidence-based policies that address the sector’s evolving workforce needs and drive long-term sustainability.

The G4F Skills Platform facilitates this transition by offering tools that help learners, workers, employers, educators, and policymakers understand the skills landscape, allowing them to align talent development, educational offerings, and policies with the evolving needs of the sector.

The platform is now live and available to users across Europe, offering a set of real-time tools for upskilling, reskilling, and career development, with continuous adaptability powered by AI technology.

About GEEK4Food

The GEEK4Food project, co-funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ programme, is designed to address critical challenges in the agri-food sector, with a focus on sustainability, innovation, and skills development through higher education. The project brings together a diverse consortium of universities, consultancy agencies – including those specialising in futures literacy – technology providers focused on AI-driven workforce development, and innovation-focused organisations dedicated to transforming the food sector. All partners share the belief that specialised, skills-oriented education is crucial for driving improvements and creating a more sustainable, innovative agri-food system. The G4F Skills Platform is one of the key tools in this effort, offering an AI-powered solution for upskilling and reskilling across the sector.