Pilgrimage Sponsored by Inside the Vatican Magazine Visits the Shrine of the Holy Face

text and photos by Antonio Bini

A number of pilgrimages, especially from abroad,  who were present in Rome for the canonization of Mother Teresa of Calcutta at St. Peter's  (Sunday, September 4) also took the opportunity to come to the Shrine of the Holy Face of Manoppello. On the day following the canonization the pilgrimage sponsored by the American Catholic magazine INSIDE THE VATICAN, together with its editor Robert Moynihan, visited Manoppello. Also present was Deborah B Tomlinson, director of the Urbi et Orbi Foundation.

The large group of pilgrims, including several Americans of Philippine ancestry, devoted an entire afternoon to visit, participating in the Mass celebrated by Fr. James O'Neal, priest of the Diocese of St. Augustine, Florida.  

Fr. James O'Neal

The  editor of the magazine himself, who a number of times in the past has concerned himself with the Holy Face,  described the contents of the exhibit and the relationship of the Holy Face with the face of the Shroud arousing the interest of those present.

Robert Moynihan explaining the exhibit for the pilgrims

The group arrived in Manoppello in the early afternoon, just moments after another group of American pilgrims, led by Fr. Jamie O'Brien, from Lawton, Oklahoma had just left the shrine.  Many other pilgrimages from the United States and Toronto, Canada connected to the canonization of Mother Teresa are expected until September 8.   Always precious the collaboration of Sr. Petra Maria Steiner.

It was an opportunity to exchange views on the current relations  between the Catholic church and the Orthodox churches, including in regards to the event of September 18, 2016 which will see the presence in Manoppello of a number of Orthodox bishops along with members of the joint international committee. 

 

Robert Moynihan before leaving thanked 

Fr. Carmine Cucinelli for his availability and for the welcome  shown to him once again.