Pope Francis made his first trip outside Rome in seven months this Sunday (28) with a visit to Venice that included going to an art exhibition, a prison and a mass, with the 87-year-old pontiff acknowledging that the life could be difficult.
The pontiff showed willingness and carried out an intense schedule, just a few weeks after suffering an episode of fatigue that generated concern during Holy Week. Plagued by recent health incidents, the Pope read three speeches and a homily during his five-hour stay, moving around the city by wheelchair, golf cart and speedboat.
Jorge Bergoglio highlighted the “enchanting beauty” of the city and mentioned the “several problems that threaten it”, including climate change, “the fragility of its cultural heritage” and mass tourism.
“Venice is united to the waters on which it sits and, without the care and protection of this natural environment, it could even cease to exist”, warned the Argentine during his homily.
Although he appeared well and spoke with a clear voice, he also made a rare acknowledgment of the stresses of the job.
“Please pray for me, because this work is not easy,” he told thousands of worshipers gathered in St. Mark’s Square.
Pope Francis’ trip
Francis is the fourth pontiff to visit the city, after Paul VI (1972), John Paul II (1985) and Benedict XVI (2011).
Maela Pellizzato, a 64-year-old Venice resident who came to St. Mark’s Square to pray “for peace in the world,” declared the visit “a fundamental moment” for the city.
The history of Venice is closely linked to that of the papacy. In the 20th century, three patriarchs of Venice became popes.
After the trip, the Argentine Jesuit intends to make two more trips to northern Italy: Verona in May and Trieste in July.
Francisco has not traveled since his visit to Marseille, in the south of France, in September 2023. Bronchitis forced him to cancel his trip to Dubai in December.
