Pope makes visit to honor second cousin on birthday

Pope Francis made a rare personal getaway Saturday, returning to his father’s birthplace in northern Italy for the first time since ascending the papacy to celebrate the 90th birthday of a second cousin.

Francis’ two-day visit to his ancestral homeland underscored some of the keystones of his papacy, including the importance of honoring the elderly. The private visit Saturday will be followed by a public one Sunday to celebrate Mass for the local faithful, where the 85-year-old pontiff could well reflect on his family’s experience migrating to Argentina.

The pope’s father, Mario Jose Francisco Bergoglio, and his paternal grandparents arrived in Buenos Aires on Jan. 25, 1929, to reach other relatives who had joined the tail end of a mass decadeslong emigration from Italy.

Pope Francis