Pope Leo XIV made a deeply personal pilgrimage to the Basilica of San Pietro in Ciel d’Oro in Pavia, northern Italy, on June 20, where he venerated the relics of St Augustine, the 5th-century Doctor of the Church whose spirituality has profoundly shaped his pontificate.

The first Augustinian Pope in history arrived by helicopter for the day trip, part of a series of pastoral visits across Italy this summer aimed at connecting with local communities. He began by quietly praying before the saint’s remains, displayed in a small gold-rimmed glass box on the altar, before leading a Celebration of the Word and incensing the relics. The Vatican confirmed that the visit included a Liturgy of the Word and veneration of the relics of St Augustine at the basilica.

In his address to the faithful, priests, Religious, seminarians and bishops gathered in the historic 8th-century basilica, Pope Leo highlighted St Augustine as a model for contemporary Christians facing secularisation and spiritual indifference. He quoted the saint’s De vera religione: “Do not go outside of yourself. Return into yourself. Truth dwells in the inner man.”

“St Augustine shows us the need to turn inward,” the Pope said, emphasising the “value and primacy of interiority” at a time when many seem to have lost their spiritual appetite. Vatican News reported that the Pope encouraged the Church in Pavia to avoid pessimism and to centre its activity on Christ while reading “the signs of the times”.

Born in 354 in what is now Algeria, Augustine lived for several years near Milan, where he converted to Christianity. He later became bishop of Hippo, wrote seminal works including Confessions and The City of God, and composed a rule for monastic life that continues to inspire. Pope Leo has repeatedly described himself as a “son of St Augustine” since his election and frequently cites the saint as a guiding inspiration for his ministry.

The visit also included stops that underscored broader themes of care, education and service. Earlier in the day, the Pope met young cancer patients and staff at the National Centre for Oncological Hadrontherapy (CNAO). In Pavia’s main square, he addressed civic leaders and residents, describing the city as “both a gift and a task” – a community built on relationships, responsibility for the common good and care for creation, education and the vulnerable. He invited everyone to affirm inwardly: “I care about our city.”

Later, in nearby Sant’Angelo Lodigiano, the birthplace of St Frances Xavier Cabrini, Pope Leo venerated the relic of her heart during Eucharistic Adoration. The Vatican’s programme listed Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and veneration of the heart of St Frances Xavier Cabrini as part of the visit.

The Pope presented the first US saint and patroness of migrants as a timely model, noting her connection to Chicago, his hometown, and her obedience to Pope Leo XIII’s call to serve Italian immigrants in the Americas.

Cabrini’s missionary zeal, rooted in devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, remains urgent today amid global migration challenges, the Pope said. Vatican News reported that he recalled her service to migrants as a model for the Church today.

The Pavia day trip marked part of Pope Leo’s 2026 summer tour of Italy, allowing the American Pontiff to engage directly with his flock while drawing on the rich spiritual and cultural heritage of the peninsula.

By centring the day on St Augustine’s call to interiority, Pope Leo invited believers to rediscover the Gospel’s appeal not through external structures alone, but through a profound encounter with Christ within.

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