It will be a particularly heartfelt edition that will celebrate the Macerata-Loreto pilgrimage on foot which, after two years of pandemic, returns to its ancient formula, albeit still conditioned in numbers and methods. Today it will be the Sferisterio of the Macerata capital (and no longer the city stadium “Helvia Recina”) to host the mass that will kick off the traditional nocturnal walk that, for forty-four years, has animated the gesture proposed by Communion and Liberation. About 2 thousand participants
It will be a particularly heartfelt edition that will celebrate the 44th Macerata-Loreto pilgrimage on foot which, after two years of pandemic, returns to its ancient formula, albeit still conditioned in numbers and methods.
In fact, Saturday 11 June, the Sferisterio of the Macerata capital (and no longer the city stadium “Helvia Recina”) will host the mass that will kick off the traditional nocturnal walk that, for forty-four years, has animated the gesture proposed by Communion and Liberation. About 2 thousand participants who, through a special form, registered from all over Italy and also from Switzerland. The Eucharist will be presided by card. Matteo Maria Zuppi, archbishop of Bologna and president of the Italian Bishops’ Conference. Waiting for the phone call that, like every year, Pope Francis will make to pilgrims. Mons. Giancarlo Vecerricabishop emeritus of Fabriano-Matelica, in 1978 he was the creator of this sign of devotion to the Madonna as an act of thanks at the end of the school year. “The Pilgrimage impresses everyone and touches souls because we are beggars of a fragile reality”, he explained at the press conference, recalling the closeness of Pope Benedict XVI and St. John Paul II, “patron of the journey, who was present in 1993 and spoke of this experience as one of the most important realities for Europe”. A reference was also made to the blessing given by Bergoglio on Wednesday in St. Peter’s Square to the torch of peace, as an “invitation to fraternity between individuals and peoples”, which as always will reach Macerata for the occasion. “Nothing is taken for granted in life and we resume the journey with amazement – also stated Ermanno Calzolaio, president of the pilgrimage committee to Loreto -, awaiting with trepidation this moment which, as we know, requires a long and constant preparation: the feedback we have received so far attested that the human heart is the real resource that allows us to get back into the game. It will be the first public release of the new president of the CEI, pilgrims will arrive from every region of Italy and also from abroad, we will listen to testimonies related to the delicate context of the war we are experiencing: ‘To God everything is possible’ is not a slogan but the synthesis of these years of experience ”.
An intense teamwork and “great collaboration with the institutions involved” as the background to this date, as stated by Massimo Orselli, director of logistics, who did not fail to express gratitude for the “many who have represented the support of the Pilgrimage ”.
Emotion and satisfaction also on the part of the mayor of Macerata, Sandro Parcaroli, of course “In the current difficult historical period this sign of prayer together will support us”.
The night walk, as well as on the Pilgrimage YouTube channel (@macerataloreto) can be followed on: Radio Nuova Macerata (frequencies 90.0 and 96.9 and in streaming radionuova.com) and Telepace – digital terrestrial throughout the Veneto, Mantua and province on channel 76 in HD, Marche channel 19 (Fano TV) and 89 (EmmeTv Macerata), Rome and province channel 73 in HD, Liguria (Teleradio Pace Chiavari) channel 12 and Tele Liguria Sud (La Spezia) 84 (Luna Tv), Sicily (Telemistretta) channel 90 (Messina), Emilia Romagna (Icaro Rimini Tv) channel 18 and Campania (Tele Diocesi Salerno) channel 87, streaming in HD on the website www.telepace.it, with the “Telepace” App, iOS and Android, on all smart TVs, always with the App that can be downloaded for free. The arrival of Sunday morning in Loreto will be broadcast live on Tv2000 (Channel 28 of the digital).