Pope Leo's brother visits him at Castel Gandolfo

Pope prays before the Holy Trinity fresco

Source: Vatican Media

Pope Leo's brother John Prevost came from Chicago recently for a visit during the Pope's summer break at Castel Gandolfo.

On Wednesday morning they made an excursion by car from Castel Gandolfo to the Shrine of the Holy Trinity in Vallepietra, before visiting the Monasteries of St Benedict and St Scholastica in Subiaco, on the journey back to Castel Gandolfo.

Built into the rock of Mount Autore, the Shrine of the Holy Trinity is located on the border between central Italy's Lazio and Abruzzo regions.

The shrine, which sits at an elevation of more than 1,800 metres in the Monti Simbruini is known as a place of pilgrimage, attracting thousands of faithful who climb the mountain trails on foot bearing banners at Pentecost and for the Feast of St Anne on 26 July.

The inner cave houses ancient frescoes, including a Byzantine image depicting the Holy Trinity as three identical figures of Christ. At the foot of the steps leading out of the shrine is the Chapel of St Anne, carved out of the rock.

The Pope spent time in prayer before the revered Holy Trinity fresco inside the shrine and greeted the faithful and the religious community.

Following their visit to Vallepietra, they travelled to the Monastery of St Benedict in Subiaco.

During their visit to the monastic complex, the Pope stopped for silent meditation before the 13th-century fresco of St Francis and, in the Sacred Cave of St Benedict, kissed the knee of the statue of the saint, keeping with tradition. He then prayed the Our Father with those present.

The Monastery and its Shrine of the Sacred Cave have been considered one of the most significant places of Benedictine spirituality for almost a thousand years.

The cave is where the young Saint Benedict of Norcia lived as a hermit in the early 6th century following the example of the Desert Fathers. It was during that period of solitude in this wild place that Saint Benedict was able to bring to maturity the charism and the spirituality which would lead him to found the first monastic communities, sowing the seed of Western monasticism.

They then went to the Monastery of St Scholastica, where they had lunch with the Benedictine community before visiting the cloisters and convent.