The Pope blesses and presents a bouquet of six golden roses to Our Lady of the Good Way, patroness of the Wayfarers' Guild of Sassari. Today, at the Vatican, the guild attended the pontiff's audience, presenting him with an icon of their patron saint.
Cristian Zedda, Chief Fiscal of the Guild, emphasized how the “Confraria de los Viandantes” was founded by the Augustinian Fathers on June 30, 1633, as a natural continuation of the Confraria de Itria that the sons of St. Augustine found upon their arrival in the city in 1477. Pope Leo XIV showed interest in this historical relationship, encouraging devotion to the Mother of God with the title of the Good Way.
"May our restless hearts, searching for God, always accompany us on our journey," the Pontiff said, quoting Augustine's famous words from his work "The Confessions." Also present with the Gremianti were Councilor Maria Francesca Fantato, representing Metropolitan Mayor Giuseppe Mascia; the mayor of Muros, Federico Tolu, a town that shares a Marian devotion with Sassari; and Intergremio President Fabio Madau.
The delegation from the Guild included Father Silvano Marongiu, the Guild Secretary Nicola Senes, the Senior Guild Members Giuseppe Manca and Antonio Sanna, the Novice Gabriele Satta, the Chief Chancellor Emanuele Cherchi, and a group of faithful including Laura Manunta Martinez. Also greeting the pontiff with the formal "kiss of the hand" were Cristian Zedda and Mattia Udassi, a long-time confrere dedicated to Our Lady.
