The visit was timed to coincide with the 90th birthday of Carla Rabezzana, the pope’s second cousin. And, after landing in Portacomaro near Asti Nov. 19 and stopping for a prayer in a village church, Pope Francis headed straight to Rabezzana’s house for lunch.
The U.S. bishops have urged Catholics to pray a novena for religious liberty in the nine days leading up to the feast of Christ the King on the last Sunday of Ordinary Time, which this year is Nov. 21.
Pope Francis’ decision to move the local celebrations of World Youth Day from Palm Sunday to the feast of Christ the King addresses the pastoral needs of local churches.
Young people representing their peers in Panama will hand the World Youth Day cross to young people from Portugal at the end of Pope Francis’ Mass Nov. 22 for the feast of Christ the King.
