Pope Benedict XVI makes a surprise personal pilgrimage
(24 aUG. 2006) : Pope Benedict XVI made a private pilgrimage on August 22nd from his
summer residence at Castel Gandolfo to Santissimo Crocifisso - the Shrine of Most
Holy Cross - located in the nearby town of Nemi. The Holy Father made the unannounced
trip on Tuesday afternoon, leaving his summer residence with small police escort and
making the 10-mile trip by car. The Pope was accompanied by his brother, Msgr. Georg
Ratzinger and a few members of his staff. After praying before the Blessed Sacrament,
they joined the Mercedarian priests who administer the shrine for Vespers. Later the
Pope visited the Mercedarian monastery. The Santissimo Crocifisso shrine was built
in 1637. The adjoining monastery housed a community of Franciscan monks before they
were replaced by the Mercedarians.