ASTI (AsiaNews): Pope Francis travelled to Asti, Piedmont, Italy, the place his parents left when they emigrated to Argentina, on November 19 for a family celebration of the 90th birthday of his cousin, Carla Rabezzana. The pope also visited another cousin who lives in a retirement home in a nearby village.
He also celebrated Mass for the solemnity of the Christ the King.
In his homily, the pope called on the faithful to look at Jesus’s kingship on the cross, he noted that, “He is not seated on a comfortable throne, but is hanging from a scaffold; the God who overthrows the mighty from their thrones works as a servant crucified by the powerful.”
He said, “let us look to Him to find the courage to look to ourselves, to walk the paths of confidence and intercession, to make ourselves servants to reign with him.”
CNS reported that Pope Francis’ father, Mario, was born in Turin, but grew up in Asti. His mother, Regina, was born in Buenos Aires, but her family came from Piedmont and from the area around Genoa.
The Diocese of Asti said it had been waiting almost 10 years for the visit of Pope Francis, who visited frequently as an archbishop and cardinal. In fact, the diocesan statement said, “For the people of Asti, the sense of closeness and belonging was very strong.”
