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PEOPLE AROUND THE POPE

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Sulmano in the Abruzzo region is about 170 kms east of Rome, and is best known as the birthplace of the famous classical poet Ovid.

For this item, thanks to Lella's blog


We really know very little of Georg Ratzinger's World War II experience except that he did his war service on the Italian front - in the Naples area - and that he came back home later than his younger brother did.

Today, he made a day trip from Castel Gandolfo to a POW camp site in Sulmano, a town in the Abruzzo. It appears that on his slow way back home from the front, Georg Ratzinger and his fellow Germans made a stop of several hours in Sulmano.

Story and photos from the Abruzzo regional newspaper, Il Centro. The photos also show us Mons. Ratzinger's nurse.



Georg Ratzinger revisits
Italian POW camp site
65 years after 'his' war




The Pope's brother, Mons. Georg Ratzinger, visited Sulmano, a city where 65 years ago, he passed through 65 years ago as a Wehrmacht soldier during the retreat of German forces from the Gustav line in central Italy.





In Ovid's hometown, he was received with full honors by Mayor Fabio Federico and the Bishop of Valva-Sulmona, Mons. Angelo Spina.

A band welcomed his arrival by playing the Ode to Joy from Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.

"I am truly moved by your welcome," the 85-year-old monsignor said, thanking his hosts, "even if I am not the Pope".




Recalling his transit through Sulmona, he said, "I was here in 1944 just for a few hours, but I have always wanted to come back and visit the city in peacetime conditions."

The Pope's brother visited the abbey, the cathedral and what is now a military logistics base at Fonte d'Amore, site of a POW camp in both world wars.





There's a bit more detail in this story in Il Messaggero today:


The Pope's brother gets
an affectionate welcome
in Sulmano

by ORNELLA LA CIVITA
Translated from

August 19, 2009



SULMONA - It has been all of 65 years since he first saw these mountains which he always dreamed of coming back to visit.

Yesterday, Mons. Georg Ratzinger, older brother of Pope Benedict XVI, came back to Sulmona in very different circumstances.

Whe he first passed through this mountain city, he had just turned twenty, and he was wearing a different kind of uniform. He was with the German troops who retreated from the Naples area in 1944 after the Allied landings in central Italy.

"I was here for just a few hours, but I always kept in mind that I would want to come back and visit the city in peace time," Mons. Ratzinger said yesterday. "I thank the Lord for having given me this opportunity."

Sister Cristina, who accompanies Mons. Ratzinger, also served as his interpreter.

The 85-year-old prelate now walks slowly, aided by a white cane. He has a ready smile for every well-wisher.

Welcoming him to the city were the bishop of Valva-Sulmona, Mons, Angelo Spina; the mayor of Sulmona, Fabio Federico; the city council president Nicola Angelucci; and cultural counselor Lorenzo Fusco, along with the priests of the diocese.

The local band from Introdacqua played the Ode to Joy from betthoven's Ninth Symphony to welcome the guest.

"It was a big surprise, and I was truly moved by the welcome," Mpns. Ratzinger said. "I thank everyone, with special mention for the band who really played very well. I accept the welcome as a sign of your good wishes towards the Pope.

"I am a humble priest who deserves none of this. But you have good, kind and industrious people who do honor to Sulmona."

After seeing the historical monuments in the town center, the Pope's brother was taken to Fonte D'amore, now a military logistical base, on what was the site of the POW camp where he stayed a few hours back in 1944.

The delegation then proceeded to the Celestinian Abbey, asssociated with St. Celestine V, the Pope whose remains are kept in teh Cathedral of L'Aquila to the north; then to the monument to the civilian victims of a Nazi bomb raid that claimed 120 victims during the war.

The final stop was at the Basilica of St. Panfilo, where he venerated a relic of St. Celestine V.

In greeting Mons. Ratzinger earlier, Mayor Federico rrecalled that in July he had visited Marktl am Inn with his family.

"We took photos before your house in Marktl," he told the Pope's brother, "and my daughter remarked that it would be nice if the Pope or his brother could come to Sulmona and be photographed before our house. And the day has come. Truly, the ways of the Lord are infinite".


PHOTO POST-SCRIPT:


Didn't realize before this that Joseph has rather curly hair compared to brother Georg!

[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 10/12/2009 20:05]
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