00 16/08/2009 20:20




Still bringing this thread up to date.





Posted on 7/18/09 in the BENEDICT thread:


A little town of 3,000
prepares to welcome the Pope:
'We won't hurt him by
hugging him too tight'

Translated from

July 18, 2009






Romano Canavese, a small town with 3,000 inhabitants in the province of Torino (Turin), has suddenly become 'famous'. Tomorrow, for the first time a Pope will be visiting.

Pope Benedict XVI is coming, fractured wrist and all, to lead the Sunday Angelus in the birthplace of Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, his Secretary of State, to whom the town owes this visit.

Of course, everyone held his breath yesterday upon learning of the 'slight' accident to the Pope, but shortly after the Pope got back from the hospital in Aosta, the papal household quickly dispelled any fears that the visit would be cancelled.




Everything is ready for the Pope's arrival tomorrow. Volunteers have set up the police barricades lining the route of the Pope's motorcade from the sports field where his helicopter will land. He will pass through the main streets of the town to Piazza Ruggia in front of the town's parish church dedicated to Saints Peter adn Solutor.

Giant streamers have been strung along the route, reading "Welcome, Holy Father - The entire diocese is celebrating", and near Cardinal Bertone's family home at No. 5, Piazza Sarti [which the Pope will be visiting after the Angelus], "Grazie, Don Tarcisio". In addition, the Vatican's yellow-and-white flags are flying from windows along the Pope's route.

The Pope's chopper will land around 11:30 on property that was once the site of a huge Olivetti plant. (Ivrea was the center of the Olivetti typewriter giant which was one of the enterprises made obsolete by computers.)

Unemployment continues to plague the region, and the Pope is expected to talk about work, families and the youth during his Angelus homily.

"Employment problems and the future of the young are felt strongly by the Holy Father," said Cardinal Bertone. "His visit to an area which is still marked by the Olivetti crisis and continuing unemployment will convey his sense of brotherhood with the residents".

Two thousand passes were given out for Piazza Ruggia, another 600 for Piazza Sarti, and a few hundred to be inside the church. Jumbo TV screens have been set up in Piazza Sarti, as well as in the parish churches of the two towns adjoining Romano Canavese.

Among those welcoming the Pope will be the president of the Piedmont region, Mercedes Bresso, the president of Torino province, Antonio Saitta, and the president of the Regional Council, Davide Gariglio.

The town mayor, Oscar Ferrero, who was elected only last month, says, "We are expecting some 10,000 persons. It's a feast for the area. It will be a joyful day."

The town will confer honorary citizenship on the Pope, which will be officially presented at a Vatican ceremony to be scheduled later.

And the Bishop of Ivrea, Mons. Arrigo Miglio, promises with a smile: "We won't hug the Pope too tightly. We don't want to cause him more pain!"