Elderly Italian man runs across ten countries to pray at tomb of evangelizer of China

Rome, Italy, Aug 1, 2007 / 08:29 am

A 60 year-old Italian man ran an extensive marathon covering ten countries in order to pray before the tomb of Father Mateo Ricci, the Jesuit priest who began the evangelization of China.

 

The journey of Ulderico Lambertucci will be featured on Italian television starting August 5. Viewers will be able to follow Lambertucci on the satellite, Sat2000—which belongs to the Church in Italy—as he runs through Slovenia, Croatia, Romania, Moldavia, the Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, and other countries until he reaches China.

 

According to Archbishop Angelo Comastri, the Pope’s Vicar General for Vatican City, the 60 year-old Italian has offered his fatigue as a prayer “that China may understand that she is loved by Jesus Christ, like other nations.”  Bishop Claudio Giuliodori of Macerata said “to arrive at the tomb of Father Matteo Ricci is a strong signal, especially now with the Pope’s letter to Chinese Catholics.”

 

Daniele Morini, producer of the program, said during his journey Lambertucci “encountered many men and women of faith dedicated to evangelization in places where it is difficult and risky.”