Get 40% Off
💎 WSM is up +52.1% since our AI picked it in December! Unlock all premium stock picksUnlock now

Pope visits Italy's 'flying house' to sign papal document

Published 03/25/2019, 07:20 AM
Updated 03/25/2019, 07:20 AM
© Reuters. Pope Francis visits The Shrine of Our Lady of Loreto on the feast of the Annunciation, in Loreto

© Reuters. Pope Francis visits The Shrine of Our Lady of Loreto on the feast of the Annunciation, in Loreto

LORETO, Italy (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Monday visited a small stone structure that some Catholics believe was the house of the Madonna, mother of Jesus Christ, and that was miraculously flown by angels from the Holy Land to the Adriatic coast.

Francis traveled to the city of Loreto, site of one of Italy's most visited religious shrines, where he said a Mass, comforted many sick people, and signed a paper he has written on the role of young people in the Church.

The document, known as a "apostolic exhortation," is his assessment of a month-long synod of bishops at the Vatican last year.

The document, now being translated from the original Spanish, is expected to tell young people that they should not be obsessed with doctrinal minutiae but blend the Church's rules with social activism to help those in need. It is due to be published soon.

According to popular tradition, the tiny house at Loreto was where the Madonna lived in Nazareth and where, according to the Bible, an angel appeared to her to tell her she would give birth to Jesus. Monday is a religious holiday, the Feast of the Annunciation, marking this event.

The house, known as the Holy House of Loreto or the Flying House of Loreto, was miraculously saved by angels so it would not be destroyed after Christian crusaders were expelled from Palestine in the 13th century, according to the tradition.

A more earthly explanation, also offered on the shrine's website as an alternative, is that a wealthy family of merchants who ruled over what is now part of Greece and Albania and whose surname was Angeli (angels), had the stones brought over by ship.

The house is now part of a large basilica that attracts hundreds of thousands of pilgrims each year.

© Reuters. Pope Francis visits The Shrine of Our Lady of Loreto on the feast of the Annunciation, in Loreto

In his address to crowds in the square outside the shrine, Francis did not mention the tradition but said Loreto was a place of spirituality, faith and devotion.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.