VATICAN CITY \u2014 The city of Pavia is preparing to welcome Pope Leo XIV on June 20 for a highly anticipated pastoral visit rich in spiritual, historical, and symbolic significance.<\/p>\n
The Holy Father\u2019s visit will combine encounters with the suffering, moments of prayer rooted in the Augustinian tradition, and meetings with families, young people, and the faithful \u2014 reflecting the pastoral priorities that have already begun to define his pontificate.<\/p>\n
A Stop Among the Sick and Those Who Care for Them<\/p>\n
Pope Leo XIV\u2019s first stop in Pavia will be the National Center for Oncological Hadrontherapy (CNAO), one of Italy\u2019s leading cancer treatment and research centers.<\/p>\n
Bishop Corrado Sanguineti of Pavia explained that the facility specializes in highly targeted therapies, particularly for pediatric cancers, making it a place where science, compassion, and human suffering intersect. \u201cThe Pope is obviously interested in meeting and showing solidarity with those who dedicate themselves to treatment \u2014 including through scientific research \u2014 and with those receiving such care, especially children and their families,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The bishop described Pavia as \u201ca city of healing,\u201d noting that the Pope\u2019s decision to begin the visit there highlights his desire to remain close to those who suffer while also encouraging those who dedicate their lives to caring for others.<\/p>\n
In the Footsteps of Saint Augustine<\/p>\n
The spiritual heart of the journey will take place at the Basilica of San Pietro in Ciel d\u2019Oro, where Pope Leo XIV will meet with the religious community and venerate the relics of Saint Augustine.<\/p>\n
From the beginning of his pontificate, Pope Leo has openly described himself as \u201ca son of Saint Augustine,\u201d making the visit especially meaningful. Bishop Sanguineti noted that several Augustinian friars in Pavia are longtime friends of the Pope dating back to his years as Prior General of the Augustinian Order.<\/p>\n
Inside the basilica, the Holy Father will preside over a celebration of the Word in the presence of bishops, priests, and religious from across Lombardy before praying at the tomb of the great Doctor of the Church.<\/p>\n
Father Gianfranco Casagrande, Prior of the Augustinians of Pavia, explained that the visit carries deep symbolic ties to Pope Leo XIV\u2019s recent journey to Africa, particularly to Hippo, where Saint Augustine served as bishop. \u201cLeo\u2019s visit follows the slow pace of a pilgrimage,\u201d he said, adding that \u201ca symbolic thread links it to his recent trip to Africa, to Hippo, where Augustine served as bishop and where much of his theological reflection took shape.\u201d<\/p>\n
The basilica itself preserves visible reminders of Augustine\u2019s missionary legacy. Casagrande pointed to a section of mosaic from the ancient Basilica Pacis in Hippo, gifted by Algerians in the nineteenth century and placed near Augustine\u2019s relics as a reminder of his mission of evangelization throughout the universal Church.<\/p>\n
A Historic Shrine of Augustinian Spirituality<\/p>\n
For centuries, the Basilica of San Pietro in Ciel d\u2019Oro has been a pilgrimage destination because it houses the remains of Saint Augustine within a monumental Gothic shrine.<\/p>\n
Casagrande described the marble sarcophagus as a masterpiece crafted by master sculptors from Campione and designed specifically to honor the saint\u2019s memory and witness.<\/p>\n
The future Pope Leo XIV is no stranger to the basilica. Robert Francis Prevost prayed there several times before his election to the papacy, most recently in 2024 during the closing celebrations of an Augustinian Year commemorating the 1,300th anniversary of Saint Augustine\u2019s presence in Pavia.<\/p>\n
Bishop Sanguineti also recalled Pope Benedict XVI\u2019s 2007 visit to the basilica, when then-Father Prevost accompanied him as Prior General of the Augustinian Order. According to the bishop, that visit helped the local Church rediscover the importance of Saint Augustine\u2019s presence in the city.<\/p>\n
Meeting Families, Youth, and the Latin American Community<\/p>\n
Following his visit to the basilica, Pope Leo XIV will travel to Pavia Cathedral, where children will offer him a floral tribute before he meets members of the South American community.<\/p>\n
The encounter holds particular significance given the Pope\u2019s many years of missionary service in Peru. Bishop Sanguineti noted that several Peruvians living in Pavia still remember the future pope fondly from his years of ministry there, describing him as \u201ca man of great warmth.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Pope will also greet children and young people gathered in Piazza del Duomo and Piazza della Vittoria during the city\u2019s summer youth programs before offering a private prayer at the tomb of Saint Siro, the first bishop of Pavia. The public celebration will conclude with a festive gathering in the city center and a ride through the streets aboard the popemobile.<\/p>\n
A Visit Centered on Unity and Communion<\/p>\n
The pastoral journey will conclude in the evening in Sant\u2019Angelo Lodigiano, bringing to an end a visit centered on healing, mission, and communion.<\/p>\n
Father Casagrande reflected that Pope Leo XIV\u2019s spirituality is deeply rooted in Augustine\u2019s human and spiritual journey, particularly in the Augustinian call to unity. \u201cThe fundamental principles of Augustinian spirituality are, first and foremost, the pursuit of unity \u2014 the unity of hearts,\u201d he explained. \u201cThis means unity among people, unity among families, unity among communities, and unity among peoples.\u201d<\/p>\n
For the faithful of Pavia, the Pope\u2019s visit is expected to become both a historic moment and an invitation to rediscover the missionary spirit of Saint Augustine \u2014 a spirituality grounded in communion, service, and the search for God through unity and charity.<\/p>\n
Adapted by Jacob Stein. Special thanks & Credits to the Diocese of Pavia, CNAO.<\/p>\n