(ZENIT News / Rome, 15.12.2024).- After eight centuries, the mortal remains of Saint Lucy, one of the most loved Saints of the Catholic tradition, will undertake an emotional journey from Venice to Syracuse, her birthplace in the south of Italy. This translation, announced by Pope Francis in a letter addressed to the Archbishop of Syracuse, marks a spiritual and cultural milestone, which resonates profoundly in the Lucian Year and the Church’s Jubilee.
A Jubilee Marked by Light
Pope Francis pointed out how this special pilgrimage of Saint Lucy’s remains symbolizes not only an act of faith but also a call to communion and hope. In his message, the Holy Father said that this movement of the Saint to her birthplace embodies “the mystery of a God who always takes the first step,” reminding the faithful that they are called to be “men and women of the first step” in their own life of faith.
The Saint, known as the protectress of sight and symbol of light in the midst of darkness, will return temporarily to the place where she was born and where, according to tradition, she offered her life for Christ. For Syracuse, this event is much more than a ceremonial act: it is an opportunity to renew spiritual fervor and to strengthen its ties with Venice, the city that kept her remains for centuries.
Lucy, Witness of Faith and Woman’s Dignity
In his letter, Pope Francis reflects on the figure of Saint Lucy, not only as martyr but also as a powerful example of the unique contribution of women in the life of the Church and society. “Lucy is a woman and her holiness indicates up to what point women have their own ways of following the Lord,” wrote the Pontiff.
He recalled that since Jesus’ times, women have played a crucial role in the transmission of the faith, being bearers of a love and an intelligence that have illumined the ways of the Church. According to the Holy Father, Saint Lucy’s testimony continues to challenge any power that attempts to relegate women’s voice to invisibility and silence.
The Pope pointed out that the Saint is a vigorous symbol of dignity and vision, an invitation to Christians to look beyond the shadows of egoism and lies that destroy fraternity.
An Exchange of Gifts Between Two Cities
The translation of Saint Lucy’s remains not only unites two cities, but also becomes a tangible sign of unity and fraternity between the particular Churches of Venice and Syracuse. The Holy Fafher stressed that “there is light where there is an exchange of gifts, where a treasure is richness for others.”
This act of communion challenges the logic of confrontation and rivalry, recalling that true wealth is not found in accumulating but in sharing. Saint Lucy, whose name means “light”, becomes again a beacon for a world that urgently needs gestures of solidarity and reconciliation.
