For Pope Leo, the basilica holds personal significance. As prior general of the Order of St Augustine, he once accompanied Pope Benedict to the same tomb for the last papal visit to Pavia in 2007.

Mgr Daniele Baldi, vicar general of the Diocese of Pavia, said the Pope’s arrival carried particular weight for the local church.

‘It’s something extraordinary and beautiful,’ Mgr Baldi told OSV News. ‘He comes to strengthen our faith, to speak to us, and to support us in our commitment to peace and unity—it’s a beautiful thing.’

‘He’s coming to Pavia, where the remains of St Augustine are kept; he is a son of St Augustine, and our city is one that is committed to the search for truth,’ he added. ‘And St Augustine teaches us just how important and relevant this quest is, and he also gives us all the concrete, specific ways to put it into practice.’

A special greeting for Peruvians

The Pope then proceeded in the popemobile to Pavia’s cathedral, where an estimated 1,500 people, including the local South American community, gathered to welcome him.

‘Greetings to the Peruvians, to all Latin Americans. A big hello to all of you!’ Pope Leo said in front of the cathedral.

‘We all want to live in peace. It’s very important that we never lose hope, because as St Augustine told us, “If we want to change the times, if we want the world to live in peace, we must begin with ourselves,”’ the Pope said.

Pope Leo also had a message for young people in the crowd. ‘Persevere, get involved, and strive to build authentic friendships—not just friendships through a screen or a cell phone,’ the Pope said.

After praying inside the cathedral, Pope Leo walked to the nearby Piazza Vittoria, where an estimated 3,500 people gathered to hear him speak.

‘St Augustine’s soul was filled with this thirst; he is an example of the healthy restlessness that stirs within those who seek, those who study and those who educate,’ Pope Leo told the crowd, which included students from the University of Pavia, a university founded in 1361.