Pope says farewell to Alpine villages, heads to papal summer villa

Published: 2007-07-27

LORENZAGO DI CADORE, Italy (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI left the Italian Alps July 27, flying to Rome and then driving to the papal summer villa at Castel Gandolfo. On the eve of his departure from Lorenzago di Cadore, the pope met with the mayors of the 22 small towns in the region and with the police and forest rangers, who assured his safety and privacy since he arrived July 9. "I can only say, with all my heart, thanks to each and every one of you for your service and commitment," the pope told the group gathered on the lawn in front of the house where he had been staying. "Your silent, discreet and competent presence day and night gave me the space needed for an unforgettable period of rest, rest for the body and the soul," he said. "Here we are surrounded by divine goodness visible in the beauty of the mountains," the pope told them. "But during this whole time, I also was surrounded by the human goodness, your goodness. For me, you really were like guardian angels, invisible, silent, but always present and available," Pope Benedict said.

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