An Italian pastor has donated a used Renault 4 with 186,000 miles to
Pope Francis, in response to the exhortation he made to priests and
seminarians in July to live simply and humbly. Father Renzo Roca, 69, who is pastor of St. Lucy Parish in Pescantina,
wrote to the Holy Father offering to donate his car, according to news
reports out of the Vatican. The car was delivered to the Pontiff on September 7 at St. Martha’s
Residence, shortly before the beginning of the Vigil for Peace which the
Holy Father led in St. Peter’s Square that evening. “When I gave it to him, we got into the car, but I didn’t have to
explain anything to the Pope because he told me that he also used a
Renault 4 in Argentina and that it never left him stranded,” Father Roca
said. After receiving the car, the Pope rode together with Father Roca to meet
with the group of faithful that traveled with him to Rome. During the brief encounter, a young man gave the Pope a t-shirt and
Father Roca explained that “normally we sell the shirts for five Euros
to raise money for parish activities, but we gave it to him for free.” However, the Pope said he would pay for it. “He took out his wallet and gave us ten Euros and asked for change.
Luckily I had five Euros in my pocket. Incredible,” Father Roca said. He also joked that a Swiss guard standing nearby told him, “Now we are
going to be a little worried because we’ll have to watch what Pope
Francis does with that Renault 4.”
Finding St Anthony Among the Lost Items
Saint Anthony of Padua, though often associated with finding lost articles, was primarily known in his lifetime as a powerful and eloquent preacher. Originally a Canon Regular of St. Augustine, he was inspired to join the newly formed Franciscan order after witnessing the martyrdom of the first Franciscan missionaries in Morocco. His conversion to the mendicant life under St. Francis of Assisi transformed him, deepening his commitment to poverty, humility, and evangelical preaching. Gifted with profound theological knowledge and a captivating speaking style, he traveled across Italy and France, drawing immense crowds with his clear and passionate sermons, converting many and combating heresy with his unwavering faith and intellectual rigor. Beyond his public ministry, St. Anthony was a mystic who enjoyed profound spiritual experiences, most notably a vision of the Infant Jesus. This intimate connection with the Christ Child is a hallmark of his iconography, often depicting him c...
