Pope Francis presides over a massive mass in Venice, on his first trip in months

He Pope Francis This Sunday he presided over a mass in front of 10 thousand faithful in Venice in which he warned about the impact of mass tourism on the environment, on his first trip in seven months due to his delicate health condition.

The 87-year-old Pope put on a good face and carried out a busy schedule, just a few weeks after suffering an episode of fatigue that caused concern during the Holy Week.

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After visiting a women’s prison, the Argentine Jesuit arrived at the St. Mark’s Square in Venice aboard a boat that sailed through Great channel escorted by a crowd of gondoliers.

Pope Francis greets the crowd as he arrives to preside over a Mass in St. Mark’s Square on April 28, 2024, in Venice. (Photo by ANDREA PATTARO / AFP) (ANDREA PATTARO/)

Jorge Bergoglio made reference to “charming beauty”from Venice and listed“the numerous problems that threaten it“, including climate change”,the fragility of its cultural heritage”And mass tourism.

“Venice is linked to the waters in which it is located and, without the care and protection of this natural environment, it could even cease to exist.“, he warned in his homily.

The visit of Pope Francis coincides with the recent entry into force in Venice of an entry fee of 5 euros ($5.35) for tourists visiting the city for one day, with the aim of protecting this heritage city. UNESCO.

“Do not give up”

In the morning the Pope landed by helicopter directly in the courtyard of a women’s prison located on the island of La Giudecca. The prison hosts an exhibition of works of art promoted by the Vatican, within the scope of the 60th Venice Biennale of Contemporary Art.

Francisco greeted, one by one, the approximately 80 inmates, the administrative and penitentiary staff and the volunteers.

In this former women’s convent, now converted into a prison for inmates with long sentences, the Pope stated that “Prison is a harsh reality and problems such as overcrowding, lack of facilities and resources and violent incidents create a lot of suffering.”.

But he stressed that the prison, “It can also become a place of rebirth”.

“Cheer up and go for it! Do not give up“, said the pontiff after receiving gifts made by the prisoners.

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Away from the spotlight and crowds, the prison exhibition organized by Holy See It is one of the most notable of the artistic Biennale and offers visitors an immersive and disconcerting experience, in which works of art coexist with barbed wire.

Pope Francis during a visit to inmates in the inner courtyard of the Venice women’s prison, on the island of Giudecca, as part of his visit to Venice, April 28, 2024. (Handout Photo / VATICAN MEDIA / AFP) (DAUGHTER/)

Chiara Parisicurator of the exhibition, highlighted “the fun” It is “the hope”of prisoners for this visit.

Jorge Bergoglio spoke with the artists who participated in the exhibition, gathered in the prison, and highlighted the role of art in the fight against “racism, xenophobia, inequality and ecological imbalance”.

New trips on the agenda

Before mass, Francis gave a speech to a group of 1,500 young people in front of the emblematic Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute of Venice, whose majestic dome dominates the entrance to the Great channel.

“Put away your cell phones and go meet people!”, the Pope asked them.

Maela Pelizzatoa 64-year-old Venetian who went to the St. Mark’s Square to pray”for peace in the world”, stated that the visit is “a fundamental moment“To town.

After a moment of reflection in St. Mark’s Basilica, the pontiff returned to the Vatican.

Francis is the fourth pope to visit Doge Cityafter Paul VI (1972), John Paul II (1985) and Benedict XVI (2011).

Its history is closely linked to that of the papacy. In the 20th century, three patriarchs of Venice became popes.

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After this trip, the Argentine Jesuit intends to make two more to the north of Italyto Verona in May now Trieste in July.

Francisco had not traveled since his visit to Marseillein the south of Francein September 2023. Bronchitis forced him to cancel his trip to Dubai in December due to his increasingly fragile health.

This did not stop the Vatican from announcing an ambitious papal trip to the farthest reaches of Asia It is Oceania in September, the longest trip of Jorge Bergoglio’s pontificate, which presents itself as an ambitious pastoral and physical challenge.

Source: Elcomercio