ROME – Tradition holds that during the anti-Christian persecution of Roman Emperor Valerian in 258, St Lawrence, when given three days to round up the church’s riches before being executed, sold the church’s vessels and gave the money to the poor.
When summoned by Valerian to deliver the church’s property, wealth and treasures, Lawrence triumphantly appeared, ushering in the city’s poor, crippled, blind and suffering masses behind him.
As Pope Francis is laid to rest Saturday, in addition to the various heads of state, dignitaries and celebrities scheduled to attend, also present will be those to whom he dedicated the entirety of his priestly, episcopal and Petrine ministry: the poor.
