Pope Leo XIV visits the Cotolengo Don Orione in Claypole

Trinidad Gallardo, the granddaughter of an architect, described the historical connection between her family and the Cotolengo Don Orione in Claypole, Argentina.

Her grandfather, Ángel León Gallardo, worked with partner Enrique Cuomo to build the institution after forming a close friendship with the Italian priest Don Orione. The relationship began in 1932 when Don Orione visited Argentina for the International Eucharistic Congress.

Gallardo met the priest to thank him for providing spiritual care to the architect's uncle, Monseñor José León Gallardo, in Genoa. During a conference in Mar del Plata, Don Orione asked the architect and Cuomo to provide the studio space and expertise needed to build a cotolengo, a type of home for the marginalized, in Claypole.

The family hosted the priest in Buenos Aires, where he celebrated mass in their private chapel and baptized one of the architect's children in 1935. Gallardo and Cuomo later documented their experiences and anecdotes with the priest to support his cause for beatification in Rome. These stories emphasize the priest's personality and the personal bond he shared with the family. The visit of Pope Leo XIV to the Claypole facility marks a milestone for the Gallardo family.

Trinidad Gallardo views the visit as a recognition of a project that transcends Argentine borders. She believes the presence of the Pontiff will highlight the daily work of the institution and encourage new donations for the facility, which relies on providence for its support.