Pope visits amusement park near Rome August 1, 2024By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis visited an amusement park an hour outside of Rome to greet workers, their families and the two nuns providing pastoral care there. Pope Francis receives a music box shaped like a carousel from a boy named Oscar during a visit to the “Luna Park di Ostia” amusement park in Ostia, Italy, July 31, 2024. Seated next to the pope is Sister Geneviève Jeanningros, 81, a Little Sister of Jesus who lives in a trailer on the carnival grounds and provides pastoral care to the workers. (CNS photo/Vatican Media) Sister Geneviève Jeanningros, 81, and Sister Anna Amelia, who are members of the Little Sisters of Jesus, greeted the pope who arrived at the “Luna Park di Ostia” amusement park around 3 p.m. July 31 in a small white Fiat, according to Vatican News. Sister Jeanningros, who lives in a trailer on the carnival grounds, has been providing pastoral care for circus, carnival and amusement park workers for 56 years. She regularly brings the workers, Roma and transgender people to meet the pope at his Wednesday general audience. The pope met with amusement park workers and their families in a large room normally reserved for children’s birthday parties where he was treated to a small show by a group of acrobats and clowns. They also played a trick on him, handing him a balloon that wasn’t tied off and zipped away loudly from his hands, according to Vatican News. Nine-year-old Oscar gave the pope a music box shaped like a carousel together with an envelope, which, the boy said, contained 5 euros “so you can buy an ice cream.” “An ice cream?” the pope said and laughed. The pope encouraged the amusement park workers, who, they said, often feel marginalized. The pope thanked them “because you make people smile,” which is not easy at a time when there are wars, crises and social problems. “Thanks to all of you for this beautiful welcome. Thank you, children,” he said. “I am happy to see this joy. Keep going, always with joy.” The purpose of the visit, Vatican News reported, was for the blessing of a large plaster statue of Mary that was newly installed inside the amusement park. The pope had visited the same park in 2015 before celebrating Mass in a nearby parish in Ostia. Read More Vatican News Cardinals Müller, Sarah urge SSPX to submit to papal authority At Curia retreat, Bishop Varden warns of Gospel’s use ‘as a weapon in culture wars’ Pope renews ‘heartfelt appeal’ for ‘immediate ceasefire’ in Russia-Ukraine war Pope Leo XIV tells priests not to use AI to write homilies or seek likes on TikTok God offers new possibilities, not prohibitions, with his invitation to love, pope says New Stations of the Cross unveiled at St. Peter’s Basilica for Lent 2026 Copyright © 2024 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Print
