The wait is finally over for the thousands of faithful gathered in Verona to welcome the Holy Father.
Pope Francis’ departure this morning at 6:30 by helicopter from the Vatican heliport for the pastoral visit to the city of Verona. Here, after landing in the square adjacent to the Bentegodi stadium, he was welcomed by the bishop of Verona, Monsignor Domenico Pompiliby the president of the Veneto Region, Luca Zaiaby the prefect of the city, Demetrio Martino, and the mayor Damiano Tommasi.
The Pontiff then boarded the papal car together with the Bishop towards the Basilica of San Zeno – the first stop of the day – to meet the priests and consecrated persons. At the end, in Piazza San Zeno, the imeeting with children and young peoplebefore blessing the large 10 meter statue of Christ conceived by Roberto Brizzi, which arrived in the Square last May 14th, precisely on the occasion of the Pope’s visit, and which will then go to Jerusalem.
In the basilica of San Zeno there were over a thousand priests and deacons, men and women religious and the nuns from the four cloistered monasteries of the city welcomed Pope Francis. For the occasion, the remains of San Zeno were moved from the crypt to the upper floor.
