Pope begins apostolic journey to Tuscany, venerates Girdle of Thomas

November 10, 2015

Beginning his one-day apostolic journey to Tuscany, Pope Francis traveled to the cathedral in Prato, a city of nearly 200,000, on the morning of November 10 and venerated the Girdle of Thomas, also known as the Holy Belt.

At the time of her Assumption into heaven, the Blessed Virgin gave the textile cord around her waist to St. Thomas the Apostle, according to the tradition surrounding the relic.

Speaking at the pulpit of the cathedral, the Pope reflected on three passages of Sacred Scripture: “your loins girded” (Exodus 12:11), the washing of the feet, and “having girded your loins with truth” (Ephesians 6:14).

The first reference, he said, means “being ready, prepared to depart, to go out on a journey”: Christians are called to “a renewed missionary passion” in which we “accompany those who have lost their way.”

Reflecting on the washing of the feet, the Pope said that “we were served by God who became our neighbor, in order to serve in our time those near to us.”

Searching for and always choosing the truth, he continued, “is not easy, but it is a vital decision, which must mark deeply the existence of each person and also of society.”

Later in the day, Pope Francis will travel to Florence and visit the historic Romanesque baptistery, address the National Ecclesial Congress of the Italian Episcopal Conference in the famed Florence Cathedral, pray and dine with the poor at the Basilica of the Most Holy Annunciation, and celebrate Mass in the Stadio Artemio Franchi, a soccer stadium.

 

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Further information:

• Visita del Santo Padre Francesco a Prato e Firenze in occasione del 5° Convegno Nazionale della Chiesa Italiana – Incontro con la città di Prato, 10.11.2015 (Holy See Press Office)
• Pope in Prato: Combat cancer of corruption (Vatican Radio)
• Girdle of Thomas (Wikipedia)
• Schedule announced for papal journey to Prato, Florence (CWN, 11/10)