Pope Leo XIV in Rimini: Bishop Anselmi calls for aid for Gaza and a football pitch in prison
Following the Mass in Piazzale Boscovich, the diocese has announced three commitments: support for the CEI’s project to establish a medical centre in Gaza, an artificial-turf pitch for prisoners, and a greater focus on welcoming foreigners
A football pitch for inmates at Rimini Prison, a contribution to a healthcare project in Gaza and a renewed commitment to welcoming foreign nationals. These are the three initiatives through which the Diocese of Rimini has chosen to respond to visit by Pope Leo XIV.
At the end of the Mass celebrated by the Pope in Piazzale Boscovich, just before the final blessing, the Bishop of Rimini, Monsignor Nicolò Anselmi, took the floor to thank the Pope. A visit described as ‘a great gift’ and ‘a great, unforgettable blessing’. Anselmi also mentioned the chalice donated by the Pope to the Rimini community, which had already been used during the celebration.
The bishop then announced the gifts that the diocese, in turn, intends to offer. The first, he explained, will be solidarity through prayer. The second, on the other hand, will take the form of two concrete initiatives, one in the Rimini area and the other outside the diocese’s boundaries.
In Rimini, funding will be provided in the Pope’s name for the installation of artificial turf on the prison’s football pitch, which is intended for use by prisoners . On the international front, however, the diocese will contribute to the Italian Bishops’ Conference’s project to build a hospital or a major medical facility in the Gaza Strip.
The third commitment highlighted by Anselmi concerns reception and, in particular, one of the problems faced by foreign nationals living and working in the region: the difficulty in finding accommodation. The bishop highlighted the significant contribution made by workers from abroad to the numerous tourism, hospitality, craft, industrial, trade fair and conference sectors in Romagna. These are people who have come from Africa, Bangladesh and Pakistan, but also from war-torn countries such as Syria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as from Colombia.
