Copyright: Holy See Press Office

Pope Francis Makes Surprise Visit to Church of Saint Augustine in Central Rome

On Liturgical Feast of Holy, Patient Mother, Saint Monica, Whose Tomb Is There

agosto 28, 2020 10:17Deborah Castellano LubovPope Francis

Pope Francis has made a special and unexpected visit to the Church of Saint Augustine in Rome.

The Pontiff did so yesterday, after having remembered the day before during his Wednesday General Audience “two great saints,” namely holy, patient mother, Saint Monica, and her son, St. Augustine, whose liturgical feasts are Aug. 27, and today, Aug. 28, respectively.

Yesterday, the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, released the following declaration announcing the visit.

«This afternoon, August 27, the Feast Day of Santa Monica,» he recalled, «Pope Francis visited the Basilica of Sant’Agostino in Campo Marzio.»

The Pontiff, the Vatican spokesman said, «stopped to pray in the Chapel of Santa Monica, mother of the saint to whom the church is dedicated, whose tomb is kept there.»

After the prayer, the Holy Father returned to the Vatican.

During the Aug. 26 General Audience, addressing the elderly, the young, the sick and the newlyweds, the Argentine Pope said the mother and son were “united on earth by family ties and in heaven by the same destiny of glory.”

“May their example and their intercession,” he prayed, “encourage everyone to sincerely seek the Truth of the Gospel.”

agosto 28, 2020 10:17Pope Francis

Deborah Castellano Lubov

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Deborah Castellano Lubov is Senior Vatican & Rome Correspondent for ZENIT; author of 'The Other Francis' ('L'Altro Francesco') featuring interviews with those closest to the Pope and preface by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin (currently published in 5 languages); Deborah is also NBC & MSNBC Vatican Analyst. She often covers the Pope's travels abroad, often from the Papal Flight (including for historic trips such as to Abu Dhabi and Japan & Thailand), and has also asked him questions on the return-flight press conference on behalf of the English-speaking press present. Lubov has done much TV & radio commentary, including for NBC, Sky, EWTN, BBC, Vatican Radio, AP, Reuters and more. She also has contributed to various books on the Pope and has written for various Catholic publications. For 'The Other Francis': http://www.gracewing.co.uk/page219.html or https://www.amazon.com/Other-Francis-Everything-They-about/dp/0852449348/

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