Pope Francis today paid tribute to the “resilience” and “dignity” of the people of Aquila, during a visit to the capital of Abruzzo, which was hit by a strong earthquake in 2009 and from which it has not yet recovered. all.
“They showed a resilient character (…). Everything was ready to be rebuilt: houses, schools, churches,” the pope said in front of a few thousand people who gathered in the Duomo square, including many relatives of the victims.
The earthquake of April 6, 2009 killed more than 300 people, injured 1,600 and caused significant damage to the city, which is slowly rebuilding its buildings, especially in the historic center.
“It’s a special visit, as if Jesus had arrived,” Rita Maccarone, 45, who lost her sister-in-law in the earthquake, told AFP, unable to hold back tears.
The pontiff arrived in Aquila shortly before 0830 hours (less than an hour in Lisbon) by helicopter, where he will celebrate mass and the Sunday Angelus prayer, before leaving the city at noon.
Around 10:00 a.m., Pope Francis arrived at the square of the Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio, aboard the ‘pope-mobile’.
Severely damaged during the earthquake, this basilica is famous for housing the oldest Holy Door in the world and the tomb of Pope Celestine V.
The visit to the tomb of Celestine V ended up triggering various speculations, according to EFE, because he was the first pope to resign, in the 13th century, when he was 80 years old.
Source: Observadora
