(ZENIT News / Rome, 15.12.2024).- The Island of Corsica lived a historic day on Sunday, December 15, with Pope Francis’ visit, who presided over the closing of the “Popular Religiosity in the Mediterranean ”Congress in Ajaccio. His 47th International Apostolic Journey, charged with symbolic gestures and significant meetings, highlighted the importance of the cultural and religious dialogue in the Mediterranean region, a cradle of civilization marked by diversity.
A Beginning Between the Simple and the Solemn
Before his departure, Pope Francis offered a moving gesture when sharing a brief moment of prayer and farewell with a group of homeless people seeking refuge in the Vatican’s surroundings. Accompanied by his Almoner, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, this initial act recalled the Pontiff’s commitment with the most vulnerable, marking the tone of a visit centred on communion and human encounter.
The plane taking the Holy Father to the Island, took off in the early morning from the Rome-Fiumicino Airport destined for Ajaccio, where it landed punctually in the Napoleon Bonaparte Airport. He was received there by France’s Minister of the Interior and by young people who offered him flowers in a warm welcome ceremony, which included hymns and local songs.
A Congress to Illuminate the Mediterranean
The Pope went to the Palais des Congrès et des Expositions for the Congress’ closing session, which, since December 14, gathered delegates of different cultures and religions. In his address, the Holy Father highlighted the vital role of popular religiosity as a bridge between traditions and a means to preserve spirituality in the daily lives of the Mediterranean communities.
He made an appeal to rediscover the values that have formed civilizations throughout the Mare Nostrum, promoting a fruitful dialogue between religions, political institutions and knowledge. “Popular religiosity is the voice of the people that, through symbols and simple gestures, seeks a link with the divine. It is a light that also illumines in times of uncertainty,” he said.
Meetings and Symbols of Unity
The Holy Father’s visit was also marked by moments of prayer and recollection. In the Saint-Jean Baptistère, the Pope sprinkled the faithful with holy water from the popemobile, before going on to the emblematic statue of the Madunnuccia, Protectress of Ajaccio. Accompanied by two children who gave him a candle, the Pontiff lighted a candle there, symbolizing his prayer for unity and peace.
In the Santa Maria Asunta Cathedral, the Pope led the Angelus prayer surrounded by Bishops, priests and faithful, while a local choir intoned solemn songs. The ceremony, rich in symbolism, underscored the spiritual bond between the Pope and the Corsican communities.
A Multitudinous Mass to Close the Day
The afternoon was marked by the celebration of Holy Mass in the Place d’Austerlitz. With an estimated assistance of 15,000 people, between faithful present and those that followed the liturgy on screens in different points of the city, the Pope highlighted the importance of Advent as a time of hope and of spiritual preparation.
In his homily, he urged those present to be “bridge builders” in a world faced with divisions, stressing the role of faith as a transforming force that transcends borders. “The light of Christ invites us to break with the shadows of egoism and to open ourselves to fraternity,” he said.
A Legacy for the Mediterranean
The visit ended with a meeting between Pope Francis and French President Emmanuel Macron, marking a gesture of mutual respect between the Church and State. Before his departure, the Holy Father signed the Book of Honour of Ajaccio’s Municipal Council, leaving a message of peace and hope for the Corsican community.
The Pope’s return to Rome closed another chapter in his mission to build bridges between cultures, religions and nations. With its Mediterranean history and rich spiritual tradition, Ajaccio became for one day the epicentre of a universal message: the importance of building a future based on respect, dialogue and shared faith.
