May 5th, 2024, the Chief custodian of the Diocese of Buea Bishop Michael Bibi joined his Christians in Italy for the Diocesan Pilgrimage in the eternal city of Rome.
Bishop Bibi, priests and Christians from Buea Diocese
Aimed at thanking God for the spiritual and substantial growth of the Diocese erected in 1950, Bishop Michael Bibi officiated a Eucharistic celebration at the Chapel of Casa La Salle, where he was joined by other priests of the Diocese.
Mass celebrated in Rome
The Chief Shepherd focused his homily on the virtue of love, which Christ stressed to his Apostles and exalted pilgrims to love one another genuinely. He told pilgrims that God is the first to love humanity, and this is evident in the fact that he sent his only son to die for humanity.
pilgrims at Holy Mass
The prelate urged pilgrims to put into practice the theological virtue of love and to avoid acts of hatred. He reminded them of the three principles of love as put forward by Chiara Lubich; author and founder of the Focolare Movement which states that; as Christians, be the first to take the initiative to love, show love to everyone, and lastly, love always.
pilgrims on the way to St. Peter’s Square
After Holy mass, pilgrims together with their Bishop moved to St Peter’s Square for Papal Angelus with Pope Francis.
Pope Francis during Papal Angelus
The pilgrimage journey on this day also witnessed a visit to the Capitoline Hill . Present at this Hill are Capitoline Museums which are a group of art and archaeological museums on top of the Capitoline Hill. This hill is one of the most popular and significant out of seven hills on which ancient Rome was built.
pilgrims visit Capitoline Hill
At the Capitoline Hill, Pilgrims had the opportunity to view the statue of Emperor Marcus Aurelius ; a mounted rider in the centre of the piazza.
statue of Emperor Marcus Aurelius
To conclude the days spiritual exercise, the pilgrims made a stop at the Colosseum; an elliptical amphitheatre in the Centre of the city of Rome, Italy, just east of the Roman Forum.
The Colosseum.
Tt is worth noting that the Colosseum is the largest ancient amphitheatre ever built and is still the largest standing amphitheatre in the world, despite its age.
