VATICAN CITY — The city of Pavia is preparing to welcome Pope Leo XIV on June 20 for a highly anticipated pastoral visit rich in spiritual, historical, and symbolic significance.
The Holy Father’s visit will combine encounters with the suffering, moments of prayer rooted in the Augustinian tradition, and meetings with families, young people, and the faithful — reflecting the pastoral priorities that have already begun to define his pontificate.
A Stop Among the Sick and Those Who Care for Them
Pope Leo XIV’s first stop in Pavia will be the National Center for Oncological Hadrontherapy (CNAO), one of Italy’s leading cancer treatment and research centers.
Bishop Corrado Sanguineti of Pavia explained that the facility specializes in highly targeted therapies, particularly for pediatric cancers, making it a place where science, compassion, and human suffering intersect. “The Pope is obviously interested in meeting and showing solidarity with those who dedicate themselves to treatment — including through scientific research — and with those receiving such care, especially children and their families,” he said.
The bishop described Pavia as “a city of healing,” noting that the Pope’s decision to begin the visit there highlights his desire to remain close to those who suffer while also encouraging those who dedicate their lives to caring for others.
In the Footsteps of Saint Augustine
The spiritual heart of the journey will take place at the Basilica of San Pietro in Ciel d’Oro, where Pope Leo XIV will meet with the religious community and venerate the relics of Saint Augustine.
From the beginning of his pontificate, Pope Leo has openly described himself as “a son of Saint Augustine,” making the visit especially meaningful. Bishop Sanguineti noted that several Augustinian friars in Pavia are longtime friends of the Pope dating back to his years as Prior General of the Augustinian Order.
Inside the basilica, the Holy Father will preside over a celebration of the Word in the presence of bishops, priests, and religious from across Lombardy before praying at the tomb of the great Doctor of the Church.
Father Gianfranco Casagrande, Prior of the Augustinians of Pavia, explained that the visit carries deep symbolic ties to Pope Leo XIV’s recent journey to Africa, particularly to Hippo, where Saint Augustine served as bishop. “Leo’s visit follows the slow pace of a pilgrimage,” he said, adding that “a symbolic thread links it to his recent trip to Africa, to Hippo, where Augustine served as bishop and where much of his theological reflection took shape.”
The basilica itself preserves visible reminders of Augustine’s missionary legacy. Casagrande pointed to a section of mosaic from the ancient Basilica Pacis in Hippo, gifted by Algerians in the nineteenth century and placed near Augustine’s relics as a reminder of his mission of evangelization throughout the universal Church.
A Historic Shrine of Augustinian Spirituality
For centuries, the Basilica of San Pietro in Ciel d’Oro has been a pilgrimage destination because it houses the remains of Saint Augustine within a monumental Gothic shrine.
Casagrande described the marble sarcophagus as a masterpiece crafted by master sculptors from Campione and designed specifically to honor the saint’s memory and witness.
The future Pope Leo XIV is no stranger to the basilica. Robert Francis Prevost prayed there several times before his election to the papacy, most recently in 2024 during the closing celebrations of an Augustinian Year commemorating the 1,300th anniversary of Saint Augustine’s presence in Pavia.
Bishop Sanguineti also recalled Pope Benedict XVI’s 2007 visit to the basilica, when then-Father Prevost accompanied him as Prior General of the Augustinian Order. According to the bishop, that visit helped the local Church rediscover the importance of Saint Augustine’s presence in the city.
Meeting Families, Youth, and the Latin American Community
Following his visit to the basilica, Pope Leo XIV will travel to Pavia Cathedral, where children will offer him a floral tribute before he meets members of the South American community.
The encounter holds particular significance given the Pope’s many years of missionary service in Peru. Bishop Sanguineti noted that several Peruvians living in Pavia still remember the future pope fondly from his years of ministry there, describing him as “a man of great warmth.”
The Pope will also greet children and young people gathered in Piazza del Duomo and Piazza della Vittoria during the city’s summer youth programs before offering a private prayer at the tomb of Saint Siro, the first bishop of Pavia. The public celebration will conclude with a festive gathering in the city center and a ride through the streets aboard the popemobile.
A Visit Centered on Unity and Communion
The pastoral journey will conclude in the evening in Sant’Angelo Lodigiano, bringing to an end a visit centered on healing, mission, and communion.
Father Casagrande reflected that Pope Leo XIV’s spirituality is deeply rooted in Augustine’s human and spiritual journey, particularly in the Augustinian call to unity. “The fundamental principles of Augustinian spirituality are, first and foremost, the pursuit of unity — the unity of hearts,” he explained. “This means unity among people, unity among families, unity among communities, and unity among peoples.”
For the faithful of Pavia, the Pope’s visit is expected to become both a historic moment and an invitation to rediscover the missionary spirit of Saint Augustine — a spirituality grounded in communion, service, and the search for God through unity and charity.
Adapted by Jacob Stein. Special thanks & Credits to the Diocese of Pavia, CNAO.
Source: https://ewtnvatican.com/articles/pope-leo-xiv-to-visit-pavia
