Pope Francis visits the Italian island of Sicily today to pay homage to a priest murdered by the mafia 25 years ago after trying to save youngsters in poor neighbourhoods from falling into their hands.
The Argentinian pontiff's visit will be brief but is part of a wider campaign he has been waging against organised crime.
He is expected to arrive in Palermo at 10:45 am (0845 GMT) and will say mass, then head to the Palermo parish where Father Giuseppe "Pino" Puglisi lived. He returns to Rome in the early evening.
Puglisi, known as ?the first martyr of the Mafia", was shot dead on September 15, 1993, his 56th birthday.
He is said to have uttered his last words to his killer, "I've been waiting for you", before dying on the doorstep of his modest home.
His assassination came at a time when Italy was already traumatised by the killings of anti-Mafia judges Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino.
For the previous two years Puglisi had been parish priest in the rough Palermo neighbourhood of Brancaccio, where he attempted to engage the local youth and keep them away from drugs and the mafia groups who supplied them.
In 2012 Francis' predecessor Benedict XVI officially recognised Puglisi as a "martyr" who was "killed by hatred of the faith".
The following year he was beatified in the presence of 40 bishops and 750 priests as well as the Italian interior and justice ministers.
Beatification is the first step on the path to Roman Catholic sainthood.
Un trionfo che sa di orgoglio e riscatto: ai Protagonisti del Mare Costa Global Summit 2024 la Citypass Travel, agenzia di viaggi di Castelvetrano, ha conquistato il prestigioso titolo di Migliore Agenzia di Viaggi del Sud Italia per vendita...
Piero Barone, Ignazio Boschetto, and Gianluca Ginoble of Il Volo have once again captivated American audiences with a YouTube video of their concert at the Temple of Concordia in Agrigento. The magical evening, held last summer in the Valley...
In un'unione perfetta tra storia e innovazione, il balcone di Palazzo Cavarretta ha ospitato due serate musicali che hanno trasformato il cuore di Trapani in un suggestivo auditorium a cielo aperto. Il maestoso edificio quattrocentesco ha...
The holiday season in the province of Trapani offers a charming experience, from the vibrant capital city to the enchanting medieval village of Erice and the evocative atmosphere of Valderice. It's a journey through Christmas markets, live...
Il Truck Tour Banca del Cuore fa tappa a Trapani dal 2 al 4 novembre. Ottime notizie per i cittadini di Trapani! Torna il Truck Tour Banca del Cuore, l'iniziativa di prevenzione cardiovascolare gratuita che offre screening completi a bordo di un...
Sezioni
