VATICAN: On the anniversary of the death of St Gabriel Possenti of Our Lady of Sorrows, on Feb 27, 1862, Pope Francis sent a letter marking the centenary of his canonisation.
St Gabriel died at the young age of 24, at Gran Sasso in Italy. In his letter, addressed to Bishop Lorenzo Leuzzi of Teramo-Atri, Pope Francis wrote that “this event showed that his Christian witness was so extraordinary and singular that it can be held up as a model for the whole Church, especially for new generations.”
The Pope went on to express his solidarity by joining spiritually in commemorating the significant anniversary with “this Diocese, the Passionist Fathers, the Christian communities of Abruzzo and Molise, and all those who will take part in the beginning of the Jubilee with the opening of the Holy Door at the Shrine dedicated to the patron saint of youth.”