A popular summer destination for tourists, Ostia will be the first of five parishes where the pope, as bishop of Rome, will celebrate Mass on Sundays in February and March.<\/p>\n
Pope Leo XIV on Sunday will travel outside the Vatican to visit a Roman parish \u2014 the Basilica of Santa Maria Regina Pacis \u2014 in the seaside community of Ostia, about 17 miles southwest of the city\u2019s center.<\/p>\n
A popular summer destination for tourists, Ostia will be the first of five parishes where the pope, as bishop of Rome, will celebrate Mass on Sundays in February and March.<\/p>\n
The pastor of the church, Pallottine Father Giovanni Vincenzo Patan\u00e8, told EWTN News the area has its challenges, including drug dealing and prostitution, but there are also many positive initiatives worth highlighting.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe pope\u2019s presence will help to shed light on these somewhat shady areas, but also to show that Ostia is not only what is often reported about crime and Mafia organizations, but that there is also a lot of good,\u201d the priest said.<\/p>\n
Before celebrating Mass, Pope Leo met children and young people gathered outside the Parish of St. Mary Queen of Peace in Ostia Lido, reminding them that they are the hope of the world: \u201cYou must recognize that in your hearts, in your lives, in your youth, there is hope-for today\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/oeYDHBeLYg<\/p>\n
According to Father Giulio Albanese, director of the Vicariate of Rome\u2019s social communications office, in Ostia, many people are having trouble making ends meet.<\/p>\n
The Church in Ostia is helping to look after those who are struggling, including those in need, immigrants, and young people affected by drugs, he told EWTN News. \u201cThe Christian community is there to help them, to share with them the love of God.\u201d<\/p>\n
Costantino, a homeless man who declined to give his last name, said he frequents the parish and has been a recipient of its charitable activities. \u201cYou must have faith. You can\u2019t lose it … even in difficult moments,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The town of Ostia also has an important connection to Pope Leo\u2019s order, the Augustinians, as the site of St. Augustine and his mother, St. Monica\u2019s, shared a mystical experience of eternal life. St. Monica died soon afterward and was buried in Ostia, though her tomb was later moved to Rome.<\/p>\n
Pallottine Father Thomas Rzempoluch, assistant pastor of Santa Maria Regina Pacis, explained to EWTN News that the parish was first entrusted to the Augustinian order, which laid its foundation. But when they were unable to finish building the church, the Pallottine Fathers were asked to complete it.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur [rector general] at that time sent the Irish Pallottines all over America to take up collections to finish the church. So there\u2019s also an American connection here,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Leo will be the third pope to visit the parish \u2014 Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis also celebrated Mass there during their pontificates.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe community of Ostia is really so excited, not just our parish,\u201d parishioner Daniele Libertini said.<\/p>\n
Acest articol a fost publicat ini\u021bial de EWTN News English.<\/p>\n
Valentina di Donato contributed to this message.<\/p>\n