FRANCIS RECALLS THE BLESSEDS VLADIMIR GHIKA AND ANTONIO FRANCO

Vatican City, 1 September 2013 (VIS) – Following today's Angelus, the Holy Father mentioned the two new blesseds: priest Vladimir Ghika, born in Istanbul and martyred in Bucharest in 1954, and proclaimed blessed yesterday, and Antonio Franco of Messina, Italy, ordinary prelate of Santa Lucia del Mela who lived between the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, who will be beatified tomorrow.

He also referred to the Day for the Protection of the Environment, established by the Italian Episcopal Conference and celebrated today. “This year's theme, 'The family educates and protects creation', is very worthy”.

“Through Mary the Lord allows us to feel his tenderness. We join the faithful of Syracuse in celebrating today the sixtieth anniversary of the tears of the Virgin”, added the Holy Father; "and today we leave with the wish to pray for peace, I hope, next Saturday at 7 p.m.”