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.”
I am just beginning to dive into the beautiful, ancient devotion to the Five Wounds of Jesus, and I wanted to share a bit of the journey with you. It can feel a little overwhelming at first to look at the Crucifix this closely, but I’ve found such a gentle guide in St. Bernard of Clairvaux . In his Jubilee Rhythm on the Passion, Bernard doesn't treat the wounds of Jesus as distant historical facts or sights to be avoided. Instead, he approaches them with the tenderness of a friend, speaking directly to the feet, hands, side, and face of our Lord. For someone like me who is just starting out, his rhythm teaches that prayer isn't just about reciting words; it’s a holy hide-and-seek. Bernard invites us to literally hide ourselves within these wounds, seeing them as clefts in the rock where we can find shelter when our own lives feel turbulent or heavy. As I start this process, I’ve been practicing what I call gazing and greeting. Following Bernard’s lead, I look at the Crucifix an...