Pope Francis

[grace-land]

Video at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-05/pope-francis-pentecost-homily-unity-self-giving.html

Pope at Pentecost: Holy Spirit unites Christians as God’s children in self-giving
31 May 2020, 10:38

On the Solemnity of Pentecost, Pope Francis urges Christians to ask the Holy Spirit to free them from the paralysis of selfishness and make a gift of themselves by serving and doing good. Playback included.
By Robin Gomes

Pope Francis celebrated the Solemnity of Pentecost with a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, with a limited number of the faithful in attendance, as health protocols of the Covid-19 pandemic are still in place in Italy and the Vatican.

During the May 31 Mass, he urged the Holy Spirit to make Christians builders of unity. “Grant us the courage to go out of ourselves, to love and help each other, in order to become one family,” he prayed.   

Pentecost, which commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Virgin Mary and the Apostles in Jerusalem, as narrated in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2:1-22), is regarded as the birth of the Church. 
 
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/full-text-pope-francis-homily-on-pentecost-sunday-25977
Full text: Pope Francis’ homily on Pentecost Sunday

YouTube video at the link below--
May 31 2020 Holy Mass for Pentecost Pope Francis
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-05/pope-francis-church-is-reconciled-community-ready-for-mission.html

Pope Francis: Church is reconciled community ready for mission
31 May 2020, 12:13

At the Regina Coeli on Pentecost Sunday, Pope Francis reflects on the missionary character of the Church.
By Christopher Wells

Pope Francis appeared at the window of the Apostolic Palace overlooking Saint Peter’s Square on Sunday for the recitation of the Regina Coeli with the faithful.

Due to health measures taken to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, the Holy Father in recent weeks had been leading the Sunday Marian prayers, as well as his weekly General Audiences, from the Library of the Apostolic Palace.

Reconciled and ready for mission

In his reflections on Sunday, Pope Francis noted that the Solemnity of Pentecost commemorates the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The Gospel of the day “takes us back to the evening of Easter”, when Jesus appeared to the disciples in the Upper Room. The Lord’s greeting, “Peace be with you”, was an expression of reconciliation and forgiveness for the disciples who had abandoned Him in His Passion.

“By forgiving and gathering His disciples around Him”, the Pope said, “Jesus makes them His Church: a community reconciled and ready for mission”.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-05/pope-at-regina-coeli-prays-for-poor-and-vulnerable-of-amazonia.html
Pope at Regina Coeli prays for poor and vulnerable of Amazonia
31 May 2020, 12:20

https://zenit.org/articles/regina-caeli-address-on-the-solemnity-of-pentecost/
Regina Caeli Address: On the Solemnity of Pentecost
May 31, 2020 15:11  Virginia Forrester

YouTube video at the link below--
May 31 2020 Regina Coeli prayer Pope Francis
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-06/pope-francis-motu-proprio-vatican-public-contracts.html

Pope Francis enacts new Vatican law for awarding public contracts
01 June 2020, 12:00

Pope Francis releases an Apostolic Letter creating legislation to govern the awarding of public contracts of the Holy See and Vatican City State, which shall follow the principles of transparency, centralized control, and competition to reduce the risk of corruption.
By Vatican News

The Apostolic Letter in the form of a Motu Proprio released on Monday by Pope Francis is the result of four years of work carried out by several Vatican offices. The text will serve as a single reference point for awarding public contracts to external entities.

The Letter is entitled “On transparency, control and competition in the procedures for awarding public contracts of the Holy See and Vatican City State”. It is composed of 86 articles with an additional 12 relating to juridical protection in cases of litigation.

The piece of legislation is in conformity with the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, signed in Merida. It replaces previous regulations in force at Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA) and the Governorate of Vatican City State. It extends to all Entities of the Holy See which up to now lacked their own laws governing contracts and public works.
 

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-06/pope-francis-message-to-consecrated-virgins-50-years.html

Pope to Consecrated Virgins: Be women of mercy, experts in humanity
01 June 2020, 15:00

In a Message on the fiftieth anniversary of the promulgation of the revised Rite of Consecration of Virgins, Pope Francis reminds Consecrated Virgins that through their calling they reflect the unity of the Church, the Bride of Christ.
By Francesca Merlo

Pope Francis opened his message to Consecrated Virgins by describing their vocations as “a sign of hope” which points "to the fidelity of the Father”. Even today, the Pope said, He awakens “the desire to be consecrated to the Lord in virginity” in the hearts of some women.

Pope Francis continued by saying that, accompanied by their Bishops, Consecrated Virgins have become “increasingly conscious of the distinctive nature” of their consecrated life. “The gift of your vocation finds expression within the symphonic unity of the Church, which is built up when she can see in you women capable of living the gift of sisterhood”, said the Pope.
 

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-06/pope-appointment-canada-dioceses-union-laurier-jerome-poisson.html

Pope Francis unifies 2 Canadian dioceses and appoints bishop
01 June 2020, 12:15

Pope Francis unifies the Canadian Dioceses of Mont-Laurier and Saint-Jérôme as "in person episcopi", and appoints Bishop Raymond Poisson as the bishop of the newly-created Diocese.
By Vatican News

"The Holy Father has united 'in persona episcopi' the Diocese of Mont-Laurier with that of Saint-Jérôme and at the same time has appointed Bishop Raymond Poisson of Saint-Jérôme as also Bishop of Mont-Laurier," the Holy See Press Office said in a statement on Monday.

The Latin term “in persona episcopi” literally means “in the person of the bishop”, and is used by the Catholic Church to indicate the union of two or more dioceses, in which the structures of each diocese such as cathedrals, seminaries and curial offices are left unchanged, except with the episcopal ministry, which is exercised by a single bishop.

It is a mild form of union between dioceses and can be a temporary provision. In some cases the “in persona episcopi” acts as a transition towards full union as a single diocese, known as “aeque principaliter”.
 

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-06/pope-francis-donates-ambulance-for-rome-poor.html

Pope dedicates ambulance to care for Rome’s homeless
01 June 2020, 18:05

Pope Francis dedicates a Vatican ambulance to serve the poor who sleep rough on the streets of Rome.
By Devin Watkins

On the morning of Pentecost Sunday, Pope Francis blessed a Vatican ambulance which will serve the poor of Rome.

The Pope entrusted the ambulance to the Office of Papal Charities, under the direction of Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the Papal Almoner.

According to a statement from the Holy See Press Office, the ambulance belongs to the Vatican's fleet and has SCV (Vatican) license plates.

It will now be used exclusively to assist “the poorest, who remain almost invisible to Institutions.”
 

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2020-06/we-run-together-an-instance-of-solidarity-amid-trying-times.html

“We run together”: An instance of solidarity amid trying times
02 June 2020, 16:57

Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, President of the Pontifical Council for Culture, speaks to Vatican News about “We Run Together”, a charity fundraising sports initiative scheduled for 8 June.
By Vatican News

In a generous show of solidarity, athletes from all over Italy will be participating in “We Run Together”, a charity fundraising auction on 8 June to provide support for medical personnel in hospitals in the northern cities of Brescia and Bergamo, particularly hard-hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. The charity fundraising auction will be hosted by charitystars.com, a fundraising campaign website.

The initiative is organized by Athletica Vaticana (the Vatican’s first sports association), Fiamme Gialle (the sports section of the Italian police force), the Courtyard of the Gentiles (a Vatican platform for open dialogue on faith and culture), and Fidal-Lazio (the Italian federation for light athletics).

Items to be auctioned include objects and awards donated by multi-medal Olympic champions and some articles offered personally by Pope Francis.

In preparation for the event, Pope Francis met with a small delegation of some of the athletes billed to participate in the charity initiative on 20 May in his private library in the Vatican. On that occasion, he expressed his joy at the initiative and reminded them of the example of medieval pilgrims who walked “in step with the weakest.”
 
Auctions

Cardinal Ravasi explained that every week from 8 June to 8 August, objects will be auctioned on charitystars.com, a virtual fundraising website.

The auctions will kick off with an item donated by the Pope - a bicycle personalized with the colors of the Holy See that the Holy Father received from world cycling champion, Peter Sagan. Other objects that will be auctioned include competitive equipment and jerseys from several athletes.

There will also be the possibility of going on a tour on the Luna Rossa, a sailing boat currently docked in the harbor of Cagliari in Sardinia. In addition, some athletes are offering the opportunity of having dinner with some of the winners.

[grace-land]

Video, with English commentary, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-06/pope-at-audience-god-does-not-abandon-us-he-is-companion-and-g.html
Pope at Audience: God does not abandon us, He is companion and guide
03 June 2020, 09:38

Pope Francis during his weekly General Audience on Wednesday continues his catechesis on prayer, focusing his attention on the “prayer of Abraham”.
By Vatican News

At the centre of Pope Francis’ catechesis on prayer at his General Audience on Wednesday was the figure of Abraham.

The Pope explained that with this “father in faith”, we see a new way of relating to God.

Abraham, recounted Pope Francis, hears a voice that resonates in his life. It’s the “voice that encourages him to uproot himself from his homeland, from the roots of his family,  to move towards a new, different future.”
 
https://zenit.org/articles/popes-general-audience-on-the-prayer-of-abraham-full-text/
POPE’S GENERAL AUDIENCE – On the Prayer of Abraham (FULL TEXT)
June 03, 2020 14:30

Video, with English text, at the link below--
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-06/pope-francis-usa-george-floyd-protests-no-racism-violence.html
Pope Francis: No tolerance for racism, but without violence
03 June 2020, 09:54

Pope Francis spoke at the General Audience about the protests in the United States following the killing of George Floyd, saying we cannot claim to defend the sacredness of every human life while turning a blind eye to racism and exclusion.
By Vatican News
 

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2020-06/vatican-santa-marta-dispensary-reopening.html

Covid-19: Vatican’s Santa Marta Paediatric Dispensary reopens
03 June 2020, 16:14

Forced to shut down for more than two and a half months because of the Covid-19 crisis, the Santa Marta Paediatric Dispensary is getting ready to provide medical care to needy families.
By Robin Gomes

With the coronavirus emergency still not over altogether, the Santa Marta Paediatric Dispensary in the heart of Vatican City began taking all the necessary precautions on June 3, to re-start its services for needy children and pregnant women.

"In a few days everything will be back to normal as before," said volunteers at the Dispensary. One of them, Valentina Giacometti, said, "The Dispensary must necessarily offer a sign of presence," adding they are close to those who are currently experiencing the greatest economic and social difficulties.

Regulated access

New mothers from all over the world come to Santa Marta Paediatric Dispensary, which is part of the activities of the Office of Papal Charities, the Holy See’s department charged with exercising charity to the poor in the name of the Pope.
 

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2020-06/vatican-museums-pontifical-gardens-covid-19-gratitude-medical.html

Vatican offers token of gratitude to medical staff for its work during pandemic
03 June 2020, 16:56

The Vatican Museums and the Apostolic Palace and Gardens of the Pontifical Villas of Castel Gandolfo open their doors free of charge to all doctors, nurses and other medical staff in a sign of gratitude for their work on the frontlines of the Covid-19 pandemic.
By Vatican News

As Holy See authorities ease restrictions put in place to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Vatican Museums and the Gardens of the Pontifical Villas of Castel Gandolfo reopen their doors to welcome back the public after more than two long months of closure.

In doing so, they have decided to thank all doctors, nurses and medical personnel for the work they have been carrying out in public and private health facilities across Italy.
With over 233,000 reported infections and more than 33,500 deaths from Covid-19, Italy is one of the hardest-hit nations in the world.

Throughout the months of lockdown, Pope Francis never tired of thanking all medical personnel for their invaluable work, carried out at the risk of their lives, praying for them and for their families incessantly.

So, as a sign of gratitude, the Governorate of Vatican City State has announced that for one week, all medical personnel will have free access to the Vatican Museums and for two weekends to the complex of the Papal Villas of Castel Gandolfo in the Alban Hills just outside Rome.

A statement says the initiative will be valid at the Museums from Monday 8 to Saturday 13 June, while the Pontifical Villas will welcome health workers on the weekend of the 6 and 7 June, and again on the following one.

The Museums were opened to the general public on 1 June; the Pontifical Villas and Gardens are due to open on 6 June.

Of course, all visitors are requested to observe a series of modalities, procedures and rules to ensure the safest conditions for all.
 

[grace-land]

Video, with English text, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-06/pope-francis-prayer-intention-june-2020-compassion.html

Pope's prayer intention for June: Compassion for the world amidst Covid-19 pandemic
04 June 2020, 17:00

Pope Francis on Thursday releases a video message accompanying his prayer intention for June, which this month is that "all those who suffer may find their way in life, allowing themselves to be touched by the Heart of Jesus."
By Vatican News

In his prayer intention for the month of June 2020, Pope Francis asks everyone to pray for those who are suffering, as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to inflict all sorts of difficulties around the world.

It has become the custom of Pope Francis to release a video message detailing his prayer intention for each month.

The full text of his intention is below:
 

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-06/pope-francis-audience-lazare-flat-sharing-solidarity.html

Pope encourages “Lazare” Association for 10 years of sharing solidarity
05 June 2020, 17:33

The dignity of the human person, forgiveness and true wealth were some of the topics that Pope Francis discussed recently with the French Association "Lazare", or Lazarus.
By Robin Gomes

Maintaining the Covid-19 health protocols, the Holy Father received in audience only eight members of the flat-sharing association "Lazare" on 29 May at Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican, on the occasion of the organization's 10th anniversary.

Others, linked to the event through videoconference, were able to interact with the Pope for more than an hour. The video recording of the encounter was broadcast by the Association on Friday.

The delegation introduced itself with these words: “Street workers and young workers: we have no other ambition than to live together simply."

The Lazare Association was begun in 2011 by two Parisians, Étienne Villemain and Martin Choutet, who decided to live with people on the street. Since then, members of Lazare have been sharing their homes with the homeless.

Six to ten people live in each flat with volunteers. Today there are around 200 of them in 12 homes in Paris. The association fights social exclusion, convinced that the homeless need much more than a home: they also need human relationships.
 

[grace-land]

Video, with English text, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-06/pope-francis-sends-message-of-encouragement-to-scholas-occurrent.html
Pope encourages Scholas Occurrentes to help others find meaning in life
05 June 2020, 16:00

In a video message published on Friday, Pope Francis encourages participants of a Scholas Occurrentes online meeting organized on the occasion of World Environment Day.
By Fr. Benedict Mayaki, SJ

World Environment Day is celebrated annually on 5 June. To mark this year’s festivities, the Pontifical Scholas Occurentes Foundation is holding a global cyber meeting of young people, parents and teachers. As part of the meeting, Pope Francis sent a video message of support and encouragement.

“Today, after all these years in which we have explored the question that drives us, it is a great joy to be able to call you community: community of friends, community of brothers and sisters,” said the Pope.

Pope Francis recalled that Scholas began “as something unplanned”, with two teachers in the midst of a crisis. He added that even though the crisis left behind a land of violence, “education brought people together, engendering meaning and therefore, generating beauty.”
 

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-06/pope-francis-sends-message-to-colombia-world-environment-day.html

Pope on Environment Day: We cannot pretend to be healthy in a world that is sick
05 June 2020, 15:00

On World Environment Day, Pope Francis calls for a change in attitudes, so that we may leave a better and healthier planet to later generations.
By Vatican News

World Environment Day is marked annually on 5 June.

The celebrations for this year’s Day, scheduled to take place in Colombia, were held online instead due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In a letter addressed to Colombian President Ivan Duque on Friday, Pope Francis stresses that “the protection of the environment and respect for the biodiversity of the planet are issues that affect us all."
 

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2020-06/vatican-arrest-torzi-vatican-property-deal-london-sloane.html

Vatican arrests Italian middleman over London property deal
06 June 2020, 10:20

The arrest warrant was issued at the end of the interrogation by the Vatican’s Promotor of Justice.
By Vatican News

The Vatican’s Gendarmerie police on Friday arrested an Italian middleman who was part of a controversial property deal in London involving the Vatican.

“Today the Office of the Promoter of Justice of the Vatican Court, at the end of the interrogation of Mr. Gianluigi Torzi, who was assisted by his personal lawyers, issued an arrest warrant against him,” the Holy See Press Office said in a statement on Friday.

“The order, signed by the Promoter of Justice, Prof. Gian Piero Milano, and his Adjutant, Advocate Alessandro Diddi, was issued in relation to the well-known events connected with the sale of the London property on Sloane Avenue, which involved a network of companies in which some officials of the Secretariat of State were present,” the Press Office said.
 
https://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/13018/vatican-arrest-man-at-heart-of-london-property-deal
06 June 2020, The Tablet
Vatican arrest man at heart of London property deal
by James Roberts

https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2020/06/vatican-arrests-businessman-in-shady-london-real-estate-deal/
Vatican arrests businessman in shady London real estate deal
Nicole Winfield   Jun 6, 2020
ASSOCIATED PRESS

[grace-land]

https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2020/06/new-vatican-streaming-service-aims-to-be-catholic-netflix/

New Vatican streaming service aims to be ‘Catholic Netflix’
Elise Ann Allen  Jun 5, 2020

ROME - In a move to keep pace with the rapidly developing digital culture, top Vatican officials have collaborated in the launch of VatiVision, a new on-demand streaming service aimed at promoting Christian values through film.

Speaking to journalists June 4, Paolo Ruffini, head of the Vatican communications department, noted that oftentimes, there are “many theoretical and practical problems in finding things that respond to the need for culture, for beauty, and the possibility of sharing and offering a quality cultural product” which helps people to rediscover faith and beauty.
 
Promoted with the slogan, “2020 years of culture, art and faith with film,” the new service is sponsored by UBI Bank. Viewers who access the platform, available at www.vativision.com , will have multiscreen access through television sets, laptops, tablets, and smartphones.

The service will also be available on TIMvision, the television service of one of Italy’s largest internet and cell phone service providers.

Presented to journalists Thursday, VatiVision will be available to the public Monday, June 8, offering a variety of content, including original programming such as Lourdes, a film documentary released in Italy in February, and the 2018 television series, I Grandi Papi, or “the Great Popes,” which follows the stories of Popes John XXIII, John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis.

The service will launch with a live-steamed event featuring speeches from the founders of VatiVision, Church representatives and actors in the films and series available through the service.

Clients will not be required to pay for a subscription and can purchase individual programs.

After its launch in Italy, the service will expand to what its creators deemed “primary” target countries, such as the United States, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Spain, Colombia, the Philippines, and Poland, eventually expanding into others.
 

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-06/pope-at-angelus-the-trinity-is-love-in-service-of-the-world.html

Pope at Angelus: The Trinity is love in service of the world
07 June 2020, 12:06

On the feast of the Most Holy Trinity, Pope Francis tells the faithful during the Angelus that God loves the world, despite its sins.
By Vatican News

Taking his inspiration from Sunday’s Gospel on this, the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity, Pope Francis underlined God’s love for the world.

The Pope noted that, in his brief dialogue with Nicodemus, Jesus presents Himself as “He who brings to fulfilment the Father’s plan of salvation for the world.”
God gives his only son

Jesus affirms: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life”.

The Pope explained, “these words are to indicate that the action of the three divine Persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit – is a single plan of love that saves humanity and the world.”

“The world is marked by evil and corruption”, said Pope Francis, “and we men and women are sinners.”
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-06/pope-at-angelus-the-sacred-heart-of-jesus-in-a-time-of-pandemic.html
Pope expresses his closeness to pandemic victims
07 June 2020, 12:14

https://zenit.org/articles/angelus-address-on-the-feast-of-the-most-holy-trinity-3/
Angelus Address: On the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity
‘The Action of the Three Divine Persons — Father, Son and holy Spirit — Is Altogether a Single Design of Love that Saves Humanity and the World’
June 07, 2020 15:17  Virginia M. Forrester

Video at the link below--
June 07 2020 Angelus prayer Pope Francis
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

[grace-land]

Update:  Notre Dame Cathedral

https://cruxnow.com/church-in-europe/2020/06/workers-to-begin-untangling-charred-metal-web-on-notre-dame/

Workers to begin untangling charred metal web on Notre Dame
Associated Press  Jun 7, 2020

PARIS, France - Workers suspended from ropes will be lowered into the charred remains of scaffolding that melted atop Notre Dame when the cathedral went up in flames and begin the delicate job of dismantling the 200 tons of metal.

An announcement that the work will start Monday and last through the summer months came Sunday from the office overseeing the restoration of the centuries-old jewel of Gothic architecture ravaged by fire on April 15, 2019.

Two teams of five workers each will take turns descending on ropes into the heat-warped web of scaffolding, made up of 40,000 pieces, and cut with saws through metal tubes that fused together in the inferno. The chunks will then be lifted out by a crane.
 

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2020-06/one-minute-prayer-for-peace-catholic-action.html

One minute for peace with Pope Francis
08 June 2020, 10:31

Men and women of goodwill across the world are invited to stop for one minute on Monday and pray for peace.
By Vatican News

The International Forum of Catholic Action (IFCA) is calling on believers across the globe to stop, bow their heads and pray for peace, every one according to his or her own tradition, at 1 pm Rome time on Monday 8 June.

IFCA has chosen this date to commemorate the unprecedented “Meeting of Prayer for Peace”, called for by Pope Francis on 8 June 2014, in which the Presidents of Israel and the Palestinian Authority met in the Vatican to pray together for peace in the Holy Land.

Launching today’s initiative, the organization said it called for the first “A Minute for Peace” event In 2014 in preparation for that unprecedented meeting of prayer promoted by the Pope. That initiative was supported by local Catholic Action organizations, by the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organizations and by other entities.

“We urged a prayer in the form of a witness: short, simple, for everyone. The response was significant in the various countries, in particular, almost 10,000 people gathered on Facebook in a short time,” an IFCA statement said.

The underlying theme of the 8 June 2020 “Minute of Prayer for Peace” is from Pope Francis’ Message for this year’s World Day of Peace: “Peace is a great and precious value, the object of our hope and the aspiration of the entire human family.”
 
In 1995, the Pontifical Council for the Laity issued a decree recognizing the International Forum of Catholic Action as an international organisation of pontifical right.

[grace-land]

Links to websites--at the link below

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-teams-up-with-olympic-athletes-for-coronavirus-charity-auction-10564

Pope Francis teams up with Olympic athletes for coronavirus charity auction
By Courtney Mares

Vatican City, Jun 8, 2020 / 07:30 am MT (CNA).- Pope Francis has teamed up with Olympic athletes for a charity auction this month to support hospitals in the regions of Italy hardest hit by the coronavirus.

Three-time world champion cyclist Peter Sagan donated a custom racing bike with the Vatican crest and colors for the pope’s fundraiser, and 2018 Olympic gold medalist Sofia Goggia autographed ski racing boots.

Other athletes, such as Italian runner and record holder Filippo Tortu, are offering the opportunity for a day of training, followed by dinner. The Olympic rowing duo Giuseppe and Carmine Abbagnale are auctioning off a dinner for two together with them near Sorrento.

All sports memorabilia and experiences are being auctioned off online in the “We Run Together” collection at the Charity Stars website starting June 8. Earlier auctions on the Charity Stars site have raised more than $2.2 million to aid the fight against COVID-19.

Online bidding for current items will run through June 18 with other Vatican Athletics celebrity sports auctions scheduled to take place throughout the summer. All participants in the auction will be automatically entered to win a Vatican jersey signed by Pope Francis.