2006-08-24 15:41:51

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.








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