- Pope Francis’ skull cap blew off his head during visit to Alessano, southern Italy
- The head of the Catholic church was in region to mark death of Tonino Bello
- Bello was renowned for imitating Jesus’ closeness to the poor and downtrodden
Pope Francis’ skull cap was blown off his head by a gust of wind today during a trip to Alessano, Southern Italy.
The leader of the Catholic church was in the region to mark the 25th anniversary of the passing of bishop Tonino Bello.
During the visit, he said Bello’s life and ministry ‘remind us to not theorize closeness to the poor but to be close to them as Jesus did’.
Pope Francis’ skull cap was blown off his head by a gust of wind today during a trip to Alessano, Southern Italy
The Pope looks on as his skull cap is blown off his head today
Bello was renowned for imitating Jesus’ closeness to the poor and downtrodden, Pope Francis said.
He added: ‘Don Tonino did not do this because it was convenient or because he was seeking approval, but because he was moved by the Lord’s example.
‘Out of love for him, we find the strength to rid ourselves of the garments that get in the way so that we can dress ourselves in service, to be “the Church of the apron, which is the only priestly vestment recorded in the Gospel.”‘
The Pope laid a bouquet of white lilies and yellow sunflower and the bishops tomb and spent five minutes praying at his tomb.
Born in 1935, Don Tonino not only serves the poor in his diocese but also worked to try to help promote peace, criticising the wars in the Persian Gulf and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
He died of stomach cancer in 1993 and the Vatican approved the opening of Bello’s sainthood cause in 2007.
Pope Francis then stopped to greet thousands of men and woman after his trip to Bello’s grave.
A gust of wind blew off Pope Francis’ hat off his head today
Pope Francis prays on the tomb of Bishop Tonino Bello on the 25th anniversary of his death, in Alessano
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