December 30, 2009. The pope visited the hometown of Saint Padre
Pio in southern Italy during the last half of June. He prayed at
his tomb and visited the sick at a local hospital. Benedict XVI
inaugurated the Year for Priests in the month of June. Before
the relics of the Cure of Ars, he said it would be a year-long
opportunity to remember that the Church and society need
priests. Benedict XVIOur mission is indispensable for the Church
and the world. It demands complete fidelity to Christ, and to
always be united with Him. Eighteen young seminarians from all
across the United States spent six weeks of their summer
studying in Rome during the month of June. Seminarian, Loveland,
Colorado“I’m not just a Catholic, I’m a Roman Catholic. And
understanding the importance of that has given me confidence
going back.” The program called “The Rome Experience,” brought
American students from different walks of life together in the
Eternal City to study and live. The pope also closed the Year of
Saint Paul at the end of