August 11, 2011. During his recent summer vacation, Pope Benedict also made a short excursion to surrounding areas near his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo.



On August 6th he went to an area between the Italian regions of Lazio and Abruzzo to visit a small shrine dedicated to “Our Lady of the Poor”.

In the afternoon he went to Rocca di Mezzo, where he met up with Cardinal Angelo Sodano. He also visited the church of San Leucio where he prayed for victims of the 2009 earthquake in the L'Aquila area.

Accompanying him on the brief summer excursion to surrounding areas were his personal secretary and some his closest collaborators.

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