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Chicago Tribune
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Relic of first millennial saint Carlo Acutis venerated in Hegewisch
Back in 2009, Italian Archbishop Domenico Sorrentino, bishop of Assisi, saw that the pastor of the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore had put up a picture of Carlo Acutis, a late devout Catholic and internet expert. Acutis, a British-born teen who became known in Assisi and beyond for his devotion to the Eucharist, had died in 2006 at age 15. But he had an outsized spiritual impact during his short life, using his computer programming skills to establish popular religious websites in Italy, including one devoted to documenting Eucharistic miracles. 'I didn't know him when I arrived in Assisi,' Sorrentino told people gathered at a church last week in Hegewisch. 'I saw many young people come. I saw Carlo had a power of collecting young people.' Acutis is set to be canonized as the Catholic Church's first millennial saint on Sept. 7. Sorrentino, who is the curator of Acutis' tomb and relic in Assisi, delivered a message of hope and rebirth July 16 at Christ Our Light Parish — St. Florian Church in Chicago's Hegewisch neighborhood while leading a veneration of a relic of Acutis, a muscle from his heart. People began showing up at St. Florian more than an hour before the service was set to start, filling the pews by the time the service started. 'This is amazing to have a soon-to-be canonized saint like Carlo so close to our home,' said Karina Bermejo, who was accompanied by several family members. 'To have the archbishop of Assisi is also remarkable.' Fellow parishioner Adriana Rodriguez came with her father, Jose, who was also in awe. 'The significance of being able to see in real life a piece of somebody who is going to be canonized a saint,' said Rodriguez. 'Sometimes when we think about saints, we think about the old or in the past. To be able to witness this in our time is incredible,' she said. Bringing the relic here, Rodriguez said, would enable her to more fully participate in Acutis' canonization in Italy. 'Some people can't go to Italy to be present,' she said. 'Because of this event, we're going to be present in spirit.' Sorrentino also visited other parishes with the relic, including St. Hedwig Church in Chicago's Bucktown neighborhood, part of Blessed Carlo Acutis Parish, the first parish in North America named for the soon-to-be saint. The Rev. David Simonetti, pastor of St. Florian Church, had the opportunity to invite Sorrentino by chance, and was thrilled that he came. 'Archbishop Sorrentino was in Seattle and my classmate is in a parish there,' Simonetti said. 'My friend called me and said Sorrentino had a free day, would you like him to come to your parish? I said I certainly would.' Mark Martich, a St. Florian member who was greeting visitors as they came in, said he hadn't heard much about Acutis prior to the relic service. 'It really piqued my curiosity about what he accomplished,' Martich said, adding Acutis' canonization might be a good way to 'get the young ones involved in the church.' Sorrentino agreed, saying Acutis has become a symbol of hope as well as a bridge between generations in the internet age. 'My friends, don't worry, don't be afraid, it is the little boys who teach their grandfathers about computers,' he said. '(Acutis) will teach you the language of this world.' That youthful aspect, he said, could create waves throughout the world. 'Can the church be young again after 2,000 years?' Sorrentino asked. 'Can the church say something very interesting that touches and moves many? 'Carlo would say the Eucharist is my highway to heaven. … It's time to be young again.'
National Geographic
23-04-2025
- National Geographic
Heading to Rome? Here are 5 towns near the Eternal City you can't miss.
As one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, Rome welcomes hordes of tourists every day. However, 2025 is the Holy Year of the Catholic Church, and the amalgamation of 35 million pilgrims visiting the Eternal City for the Jubilee might make your Roman holiday more hell than heaven if you don't plan ahead. Although the local administration made many infrastructure renovations, Rome will still be overpopulated – not to mention plagued by price inflation for everything from lodging to food. So why not adopt the popular saying 'when in Rome, do as the Romans do,' and branch out? We, as Roman locals, often choose to leave the chaos of the city in favor of a more peaceful day out in the countryside or the beauty of a smaller village. According to Unexpected Italy, 'Seventy percent of tourists visit only one percent of Italy.' Apart from missing out on discovering other places, visitors have an unrealistic experience of what the country truly is outside of its main tourist hot spots. Forty-six miles outside of Rome, the Garden of Ninfa is a must-see site that features medieval ruins, a 12th-century castle, multiple churches including the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, and it's also home 1,300 botanical species, including birch, water rose, and deciduous magnolia. Photograph by ValerioMei, Shutterstock After hitting the main sights of the Eternal City, you, too, might find a more pleasurable time visiting some of the nearby towns. The perks are endless: you can still enjoy what makes Rome, well, Rome—its history, food, and art—while avoiding the crowds and the skyrocketing prices. Here is a list of towns you can travel to from Rome in under two hours for diverse spring experiences. (Related: The ultimate guide to the 2025 Jubilee in Rome.) Relax in a garden state of mind in Ninfa Fifty miles south of Rome, the Giardino di Ninfa rises on the abandoned ruins of a lost town. The New York Times described it as 'the most romantic garden in all of Italy.' You can only enter the privately owned gardens on certain days between March and November, which allows for the perfect opportunity for a south-bound spring trip when most flowers are in bloom. Half-collapsed towers, open-sky churches, river bridges, and romantic porticoes are adorned by 1,300 species of flowers and plants. The gardens of Ninfa would provide the perfect scenery and ambiance for a fairytale. With only the sounds of nature surrounding you, birds chirping, and water murmuring; it's not hard to imagine fantastic creatures jumping out of every bush and tree. Nearby, the towns of Norma and Sermoneta are perched atop the hills looming over the garden. Pop into Norma to visit a chocolate factory museum and the Ancient Roman archaeological site of Norba; you can also paraglide over the area, and visit the 13th century Caetani Castle in Sermoneta. (Related: 6 of the best Italian hill towns, from art enclaves to historical sites.) Swim by Anzio's ancient ruins When the weather is too hot to bear in the city, head southwest to one of the many beach towns on the Roman coast. In Anzio, you can sunbathe or dip into the clear-blue sea next to the ruins of an Ancient Roman imperial villa and the Grottoes of Nero. The archaeological site is, quite literally, part of the beach; no ticket is needed to enter it, and you can do so as part of your swim or promenade on the shore. Ancient Antium was a holiday destination and birthplace for many emperors. Caligula loved the town so much that he wanted to make it the capital of the empire, but the archeological sites are named after Nero, who expanded the imperial villa into a majestic mansion. Visitors in Anzio can swim or sunbathe next to the ruins of an Ancient Roman imperial villa and the Grottoes of Nero. No ticket is required. Photograph by Alessandro0770, Alamy Stock Photo Once you've enjoyed the Tyrrhenian sea and feasted on delicious local seafood, visit two nearby museums: Museo Civico Archeologico di Anzio, with ancient finds from the area, and the Museo Storico dello Sbarco, with relics from the landing of the Anglo-American troops in 1944. (Related: 8 of the best coastal towns in Italy you may not have heard of.) Time walk in Viterbo's medieval neighborhood Situated northeast of Rome, Viterbo is the second largest city in Lazio, but it can hardly compete with Italy's capital in terms of population and size with its 66,000 inhabitants versus Rome's three million residents. In Viterbo, you can opt for a quiet walk in the city center paired with a natural wellness retreat. The medieval San Pellegrino district is one of the best preserved in Europe, with its profferli (external stairs typical of Middle Ages architecture), towers, arches, alleyways, churches, and squares. Touring San Pellegrino can help you paint a realistic picture of what a medieval city looked like; so much so that Netflix chose Viterbo to film scenes from its 2024 show Decameron, set in Florence during the 1300s. Don't miss the Palazzo dei Papi, where the papacy was moved between 1257 and 1281. After touring the historical center, you should take advantage of the area's natural springs and pamper yourself at one of Viterbo's many thermal baths. You can brave the wild springs of Sorgenti del Bullicame or indulge in one of the many spa resorts like Terme dei Papi (Related: 10 must-do experiences in Italy's Lazio region.) Discover Tivoli's three villas Wander amid nature, art, and history in Tivoli, only 18 miles east of Rome, and visit three diverse historic villas. The oldest is Villa Adriana, the 120-hectare (49-acre) park built on the ruins of the magnificent residence of Emperor Hadrian. An admirer of Ancient Greek and Egyptian architecture, Hadrian took inspiration from his vast travels and fused eclectic elements in his palatial grounds, like a Greek Poikilos, an Egyptian Canopus, along with classic Roman elements like thermal baths and an open-air theater. Next up, the park of Villa Gregoriana was inaugurated by Pope Gregory XVI in 1835 and features Roman temples and roaring waterfalls amid its sylvan paths. This is better experienced through a guided tour that can be booked here. Last, but certainly not least, Villa d'Este is perhaps the most exuberant of the three villas in Tivoli. It has pompous 16th-century Renaissance-style interiors and vast grounds. The gardens are a masterpiece in hydro-engineering, featuring 255 mini-waterfalls, 100 pools, and 50 fountains, all powered by natural pressure. On a good day, you can glimpse the outline of St. Peter's Basilica's dome in the distance. (Related: How to plan the ultimate trip to Tuscany.) Spend a day at Bracciano's lake A day trip to Lago di Bracciano is never a bad idea. One hour northwest of Rome, the 5600-hectare (13,837-acre) lake is equipped for sunbathing, swimming, and various water sports—so pack accordingly. Three charming towns face the lake: Bracciano, Anguillara Sabazia, and Trevignano Romano. If the weather is not good enough to go in the water, there is still plenty to do around here. The coastline is 30 miles long and sets the mood for a romantic walk or drive that features panoramic viewpoints and plenty of stands selling local gastronomic and artisanal products. Visitors to the lake region should consider visiting the imposing Castello Orsini-Odescalchi in Bracciano. Built in 1470, the castle is still furnished as it once was, with original tapestries, frescoes, and furniture. It also houses a museum with collections of medieval armor and weapons, as well as ceramics and paintings. (Related: These are the must-see sights of Italy's Abruzzo region.) Federica Bocco is a journalist, travel writer, and entertainment critic based in Italy.
