The Florence mayor's visit to Israel and Palestine, Feb. 15-19, was supposed to last four days. But Dario Nardella, who came to the Holy Land at the invitation of the Custos, was forced to return to his city ahead of time because of a terrible workplace accident in which four people lost their lives.
In this spirit of listening and deep friendship, in the sign of Giorgio La Pira, the Mayor of Florence visited some of the Custody's missions, such as Dar el Majius and the Piccirillo Center. He also met with Ron Huldai, mayor of Tel Aviv, together with the families of the Israeli hostages, as well as with the mayor of Bethlehem, Anton Salman, whose grandfather, also a mayor, had signed the historic twinning between the two cities, along with Giorgio La Pira.
"There is a relationship between the Custody and Florence - said the Custos of the Holy Land fr. Francesco Patton -. Just think La Verna, the stigmata. Here, various initiatives are being held this year for the eighth centenary of this historical fact that for the confirmation of St. Francis to the image of Christ crucified. Few know that La Verna is owned by the City of Florence and it was the City of Florence, in fact, that saved La Verna for the friars and La Verna".
