Best of: Shrine of Pompeii

This week, in what is normally the interview segment of Vatican Insider, I’ve prepared a Special on the beautiful Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii, just south of Naples. Why this shrine this week? Well, just this week Pope Francis authorized the promulgation of the decree of canonization of Blessed Bartolo Longo who founded this shrine in the 19th century. Bartolo Longo’s life story should be told in a full length movie. Born into a very wealthy and very Catholic family, Bartolo studied law and in his university years was a follower of satanism. We learn of his conversion – his return to the faith – his love for Mary and the rosary, how he founded this shrine, his beatification by St. John Paul and his canonization, now on the horizon.