Pope Leo XIV will visit the Italian city of Pavia this Saturday, where he will pray at the tomb of Saint Augustine, meet with Augustinian religious, and hold various encounters with the faithful, priests, and oncology patients during a pastoral day in the Lombardy region.
Visit to the tomb of Saint Augustine
One of the central moments of the day will be the visit to the Basilica of San Pietro in Ciel d’Oro, where the remains of Saint Augustine, Bishop of Hippo and one of the principal Fathers of the Church, are preserved.
Leo XIV, a member of the Order of Saint Augustine, will also meet with Augustinian religious during his stay in the university city of Pavia, located about 35 kilometers from Milan.
Meeting with patients and healthcare staff
Before going to the basilica, the Pontiff will visit the National Center for Oncological Radiotherapy, where he will meet with patients, families, and medical staff.
He will then travel to Sant’Angelo Lodigiano, a municipality of approximately 13,000 inhabitants located about 23 kilometers from Pavia. There, meetings with priests and the faithful of the area are planned.
Expectation in the Diocese of Pavia
The Bishop of Pavia, Monsignor Corrado Sanguineti, has expressed his satisfaction with the papal visit. In statements reported by Vatican media, he said the decision was made quickly and described the Pope’s presence as «a gift for the Church and for the city of Pavia.»
Sanguineti also highlighted that Leo XIV will come to the city «as a pilgrim of Saint Augustine,» but also to meet with the local ecclesial community.
The last visit of a Pope to Pavia took place in 2007, when Benedict XVI traveled to the city. Previously, Saint John Paul II visited it in 1984.
Next trip to Lampedusa
The Pope’s schedule will continue on July 4 with a visit to the Italian island of Lampedusa, one of the main points of arrival for migrants coming from North Africa.
In recent months, Leo XIV has made several trips within and outside Italy. Last week he returned from a seven-day trip to Spain, while earlier he had visited Pompeii, Naples, and Acerra.
In various public statements, the Pontiff has recalled the situation of migrants attempting to reach Europe via the Mediterranean and the numerous deaths recorded during these crossings.