Italy Cervia gives salt to the Pope in accordance with tradition-Vatican News

(Vatican News Network)Pope Francis greeted and thanked the delegation of the Italian municipality of Cervia at a public reception on Wednesday, October 13. He said, “They came here together according to tradition to present salt to the Pope. I also remember the respected Ms. Mario Marini in my heart.”

The tradition of giving salt to the Pope in Cervia began in the middle of the 15th century, when Bishop Pietro Bardo (Pietro Bardo) began to send salt to Rome and the Vatican. Later, he ascended to the pope’s throne, named Pope Paul II, and hoped that the tradition of giving salt would continue. This tradition lasted until the Italian army captured Rome in 1870. It was not until 2003 that the then priest Marini of St. Peter’s Basilica hoped to restore this tradition. Since then, Cervia once again donated salt to the Pope’s cafeteria and the parishes of the Roman Diocese.

Father Pierre Cabantous, the chief priest of Cervia, explained, “Salt has a very strong spiritual meaning, because in the ancient baptism ceremony, a little bit of salt was put on the mouth of a child. Priest I would recite a Latin verse, which means’you receive the salt of wisdom.’ Therefore, for Cervia at that time, it was an honor to be able to provide services to all the parishes of Rome.” Father Cabantus said: “Even today, it is very touching for us to be able to give our products to the Pope.”

Cervia’s salt, also known as luscious salt, is one of the oldest products in Italy. Franco Di Ticco, one of the initiators of Salt Journey, told this news network, “In Cervia, there used to be about 140 saltworks. Later, as time passed, they were unified and once a year All the salt is collected. The ancient saltworks seems to date back to the Etruscan period and it has now become an open-air museum.”

Link URL: www.vaticannews.cn