Pope Francis arrived this morning in L'Aquila on the occasion of the historic Pastoral Visit for Celestinian Forgiveness with the opening of the Holy Door in the churchyard of the Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio.

The Pope was greeted in Piazza Duomo , where he arrived aboard a white Fiat 500 L, by a cheering crowd and many Vatican flags. In front of the Cathedral, still unusable after the devastating earthquake of 2009 , he was welcomed by Cardinal Giuseppe Petrocchi and by the President of the Region Marco Marsilio. Then, wearing a safety helmet and in a wheelchair for his health problems, he visited the scaffolded church.

For the post-earthquake reconstruction, the Holy Father said, "collaboration", "synergy" and "a far-sighted commitment" are needed. "Personal and collective rebirth is a gift of Grace and is also the result of the commitment of each and all. It is essential to activate and strengthen the organic collaboration, in synergy, of institutions and associations: a laborious harmony, a far-sighted commitment because we are working for the children, for the grandchildren, for the future ". We need the commitment of "all, all together, underline this, all together".

(Unioneonline / D)

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