On Thursday, I posted this snippet from the OR sidebar on the Wednesday GA:
From the shrine of San Francesco di Paola (a Tyrrhenian seaside town in Calabria, the region that makes up the 'toe' of the Italian boot), friars of the saint's Order of Minims and a youth delegation came to commemorate the 25th anniversary of John Paul II's visit to the shrine, and to invite Benedict XVI.
"We hope to see him in Calabria", said their Father Provincial, Rocco Benvenuto.
There's a follow-up story, posted in Lella's blog
Pope may visit the shrine
of St. Francis of Paola in 2011-2012
for Jubilee celebration
by Gaetano Vena
Translated from
Nov. 27, 2009
PAOLA - Pope Benedict XVI has promised to visit the Shrine of San Francesco - news that is certainly exceptional and will be greeted with enthusiasm by the faithful followers of the Patron Saint of Paola and Calabria.
His Holiness may visit Calabria between 2011-2012, on the 50th anniversary of the proclamation of the Great Thaumaturge as the Protector Saint of the region.
A papal visit would mobilize all the bishops and archbishops of the Calabrian dioceses, the administrative machinery at the local level and all the various political personages, to prepare for a visit which was promised by the Pope earlier this week.
San Francesco di Paola (1416-1507) founded the Order of Minims in 1436 and built the church and monastery in Paola in 1454. He was renowned as a miracle worker in his lifetime.
More than 25 years ago, John Paul II stayed overnight in Paola at the 'spiritual fortress' of Calabria. The anticipated visit of Benedict XVI would be motivated by the proclamation in 1962 of San Francesco as Patron of Calabria.
Last Tuesday around midnight, a large group of pilgrims left the Shrine at Paola to take part in the Pope's General Audience the following day in Rome. The pilgrims were back in Paola in the night between Wednesday and Thursday.
They were led by the Provincial of the Minim Friars [the order , Fr. Rocco Benvenuto, and on the part of the commune administration, Ivan Ollio, head of the local Socialist Party, as well as the parish priest of Santa Maria di Porto Salvo.
On Thursday morning, Fr. Benvenuto recounted their audience with the Pope. The group from Calabria numbered about 300, including some students of the Liceo di Catanzaro and from the Pizzini of Paola.
In his greetings, the Holy Father mentioned the group twice. Later on, at the 'baciamano' [when special guests are presented to the Holy Father and have a chance to kiss his ring], Padre Rocco explained the reason for the pilgrimage and took the occasion to invite the Pope for the Franciscan anniversary.
Before the group left, Padre Rocco spoke to representatives of the Prefecture for the Pontifical Household which arranges Italian trips by the Pope, and he was promised a date between 2011-2012.
"We must get to work right away to make the most of this occasion," Padre Rocco said.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 28/11/2009 12:35]