A group of pilgrims from Lodi were greeted by Pope Francis at the Vatican on August 26 and recalled the virtues of the Italian city’s native-born son who went as a missionary to Argentina and baptized the future pope.
C. Rubini CTC, Vatican News
Born in Senna Lodigiana in the northern Lombardy region of Italy, Fr. Enrico Pozzoli spent his life as a missionary in Argentina.
George Mario Bergoglio was baptized on September 25, 1936 by this Italian-born priest. He later helped him discern his calling to join the Jesuits. and helped the future pope’s parents accept his decision to become a priest.
In a meeting with pilgrims from Lodi Diocese on Friday, Fr. Pope remembers Pozzoli. “He was a true Salesian!” The Pope said of the priest who baptized him “Fr. Possoli was a wise, good and hard worker. The Pope recalled that he was an apostle of confession, that he was never tired of hearing confessions, that he was merciful and well-educated in listening and admonishing. The Pope thanked one of the pilgrims present for writing a biography about Fr. Possoli. His Holiness It was formally dedicated to his father there.
A heavily affected area at the beginning of the epidemic
Pope Francis also recalled that the area around Lodi was the first place to be declared a “red zone” at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in the Western Hemisphere. The Pope offered heartfelt thanks to the area’s doctors, nurses, volunteers, chaplains and mayors who have worked so hard throughout the pandemic.
The Synod: An Institutional Journey
The Pope spoke about the Synod, which recently moved to a new stage as all bishops’ conferences had decided to hand over their national synods to the Vatican. Pope Francis said that the Synod seeks to help the people of God grow in our identity as a Church by walking together in various siddhis and ministries and listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit.
The Pope lamented hearing one say he would like to see “a more synodal, less institutional Church.” “This is wrong,” “Synodal travel is institutional because it is of the nature of the Church. We are in synod because we are an institution. Papa clarified.
The fountain of the gospel
Pope Francis encouraged the pilgrims from Lodi to return to the fountain of the Gospel. “The world changes, but Christ and his gospel do not. The future of the church lies in returning to the essentials—going to the source—and from there begin our journey again.” Papa concluded.