Pope Francis visits the region where his Italian ancestors lived

Pope Francis went back to his roots this weekend by visiting Piedmont, Italy’s northwestern region where his ancestors lived.

“My father left these lands to immigrate to Argentina,” the Pope said during a mass in the Asti cathedral this Sunday.

The Pope arrived at the cathedral in a wheelchair, smiling and visibly moving.

The day before, he celebrated the 90th birthday of one of his cousins, a descendant of his grandfather’s brother Carlo Bergoglio, the only brother who did not immigrate to Argentina.

The Pope’s grandfather emigrated with his entire family, including his father. The pope, Jorge Bergoglio, born in Buenos Aires in 1936, said, “Thank you for your warm welcome!” said.

“I am very grateful to the civic and religious authorities for the preparations that made this long-awaited visit possible,” said Angelus, the traditional Sunday prayer. said.

In Piedmontese, a dialect his grandmother Rosa taught him in Argentina, the Pope said, “I’m so glad to see them (…) well!” said.

The Pope also referred to the war in Ukraine: “Let’s think about all the war-affected parts of the world, especially the martyred Ukraine (…) Let’s continue to pray for peace.”