In 800 from Cesena in audience with Pope Francis, in memory of the Cesena Pontiff Pius VII

There are 800 pilgrims who will reach Rome tomorrow, Saturday 20 April, from the Diocese of Cesena-Sarsina, in memory of the Cesena Pope Pius VII Barnaba Chiaramonti 200 years after his death. The day will be lived in memory of the monk of Santa Maria del Monte di Cesena born on 14 August 1742, who became Pope in 1800 and died in 1823.

The pilgrimage to Rome will be shared with the bishops and faithful of the Dioceses of Imola (230 participants) and Tivoli (600) where Pope Chiaramonti was bishop and cardinal. 150 will arrive from Savona-Noli, where Pius VII was imprisoned by Napoleon before being taken to Fontainebleau. Pius VII remained in France until January 1814 when Napoleon ordered him to be brought back to Savona where, on 10 March 1814, the order arrived to set him free. From there he began his journey back to Rome. He arrived in Cesena on 20 April 1814 and remained there until 7 May.

The 800 people from Cesena will be led by Bishop Douglas and 14 priests. Around 350 pilgrims signed up for the same-day travel formula for Saturday 20 April. Some parishes have extended the stay to Saturday and Sunday. They are those of the Duomo, Osservanza and San Giovanni Bono, Case Finali, Ponte Pietra, Gatteo and Sant’Angelo, Mercato Saraceno, Sarsina and Montecastello.

There will be 180 faithful who will travel to Rome by their own means. Everyone will be given the kit prepared for the occasion, consisting of a handkerchief and a booklet which reports the life of Pope Pius VII and the texts of the liturgies.

With the deputy mayor of Cesena, Christian Castorri, the first citizens of Sarsina, Enrico Cangini, and of Mercato Saraceno, Monica Rossi will be present. The Cesena-Sarsina choir “Alma canta” will enliven the initial moment of the audience with Pope Francis and the Mass in St. Peter’s. The departure of the buses is scheduled for 3.15am on Saturday 20 April from the “Ambrosini” car park of the Cesena racecourse. Some buses will depart from the parishes, as will groups that will stop for two days in the capital. The arrival at the Gianicolo car park in Rome is expected at 8.30 am. The 1,800 pilgrims will have a meeting with Pope Francis at 10am in the Nervi hall.

At 1.45pm you will enter St. Peter’s Basilica, where it will be possible to venerate the tomb of Pope Pius VII. At 3pm Cardinal Mauro Gambetti will preside over the Mass at the Altar of Confession. At 5pm the buses depart for the return to Cesena.