Rome, March 24 – One hundred and twenty pilgrims from the Diocese of Carpi arrived in the capital today to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the diocesan weekly ‘Notizie’. Led by Bishop Erio Castellucci, the group will participate in a general audience with Pope Leo XIV tomorrow and attend Mass in St. Peter’s.
Pilgrimage Marks 40 Years of ‘Notizie’ Weekly
The pilgrimage, organized by ‘Notizie’, the weekly publication of the Diocese of Carpi, is accompanied by the slogan: “With Pope Leo XIV towards an unarmed and disarming peace.” The pilgrims will remain in Rome until tomorrow, March 25, when they will attend the general audience with Pope Leo XIV.
This morning, the group participated in a Mass at the Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, presided over by Don Carlo Malavasi, who is guiding the pilgrims, and concelebrated by Father Célestin Mbuama Ngalamulume, parish priest of San Francesco and San Nicolò in Carpi.
Identity as a ‘Church Newspaper’ Reinforced
Luigi Lamma, editorial director of ‘Notizie’, explained the dual purpose behind organizing this event for the weekly’s 40th anniversary. “First and foremost, it is to confirm our identity as a ‘Church newspaper’, which is not only expressed in reference to its publisher but is also evidenced by full fidelity and adherence to the mission of the Church, starting from the diocesan dimension,” Lamma stated.
In preparation for the pilgrimage, a public reflection session was held in February, led by Bishop Castellucci, on the theme “I Believe in the Church,” to help pilgrims experience the journey as an act of faith.
Historical Connection to Papal Visits
The second purpose of the initiative stems from a unique historical note: the Church of Carpi has received extraordinary closeness from all three Popes preceding Leo XIV. This includes visits from John Paul II in 1998, Benedict XVI in 2012, and Francis in 2017 – a distinction few local churches can claim.
Itinerary and Upcoming Events
Following this morning’s Mass, the group of pilgrims will visit several iconic Roman landmarks, including Piazza di Spagna, the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, Santa Prassede, Santa Maria Maggiore, San Pietro in Vincoli, and the Colosseum.
Tomorrow morning, after the papal audience, the group will attend Mass in St. Peter’s, presided over by Bishop Castellucci. This initiative was made possible through collaboration with a group that organized approximately fifteen day-long pilgrimages to Rome during the Jubilee year, coordinated by Don Carlo Malavasi and Roberto Andreotti.
The general audience tomorrow, starting at 10:00 AM, can be followed on TV2000 and via the streaming channels of Vatican News and Telepace.
