Pope Francis returns to his father’s birthplace in northern Italy on Saturday for the first time since ascending the papacy to celebrate the 90th birthday of a second cousin who long knew him as simply “Giorgio.”
The visit to Francis' ancestral homeland to renew ties with family touches on keystones of Francis’ papacy, including the importance of honoring the elderly and the human toll of migration. Francis' private visit Saturday will be followed by public one Sunday to celebrate Mass for the local faithful, where he could well reflect on his family's own experience migrating to Argentina.
