Assisi prelate recounts invitation to Pope Francis

October 04, 2013

As Pope Francis prepared to make his October 4 apostolic journey to Assisi, Archbishop Domenico Sorrentino of Assisi - Nocera Umbra - Gualdo Tadino discussed his invitation to the Pope in a column published in L’Osservatore Romano.

Within hours of the Pope’s election, Archbishop Sorrentino sent his invitation: “many popes have come before you, but for you there is a special expectation. It is inscribed in your name.” During an April ad limina visit to Pope Francis, the region’s bishops suggested the date of October 4.

“The visit of Pope Francesco undoubtedly has a unique character,” Archbishop Sorrentino added, “if nothing else, [from] the fact that this is the first Pontiff who bears the name of the Poverello. And it is known that the Holy Father has attributed to this choice a programmatic character, illustrated right from the start of his pontificate.”

 

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Further information:

• Una tabella di Marcia (L’Osservatore Romano)