Vatican City, Apr 24, 2017 / 10:28 am
Pope Francis will make a pilgrimage June 20 to visit the graves of two 20th century Italian priests in the towns of Bozzolo and Bariana, the Vatican announced Monday.
Fr. Lorenzo Milani and Fr. Primo Mazzolari both have reputations for being anti-establishment, though they were obedient to the Church throughout their lives. The Pope's visit to their graves will take place in a "private and unofficial manner," the April 24 communique stated.
The pilgrimage takes place in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the death of Fr. Milani, who lived from 1923-1967. Pope Francis spoke about Fr. Milani in a video message to the participants of a presentation on the priest's complete works in Milan Sunday.
"I would love to remember him especially as a believer, in love with the Church even though he was wounded," the Pope said in the message April 23, "and as a passionate educator with a vision of the school that seems to me to respond to the need of the hearts and the intelligence of our children and youth."