By Senior Airman Caleb House, 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs / Published October 02, 2020
Italian air force members carry a Madonna Di Loreto statue at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Sept. 27, 2020. A special holy mass was held on base to celebrate the Madonna Di Loreto being here. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Caleb House)
Two Italian air force members stand guard by a Madonna Di Loreto statue at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Sept. 27, 2020. The Madonna Di Loreto is the Patroness of Aeronauts, as declared by Pope Benedict XV. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Caleb House)
U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Jason Bailey, 31st Fighter Wing commander, right, and Italian air force Col. Luca Crovatti, Italian base commander, attend holy mass at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Sept. 27, 2020. A special holy mass was held on base to celebrate the Madonna Di Loreto. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Caleb House)
Attendees pose for a group photo with the Madonna Di Loreto statue at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Sept. 27, 2020. The statue is on a pilgrimage around Italy in celebration of the centenary of her proclamation as the Patroness of Aeronauts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Caleb House)
U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Jason Bailey, 31st Fighter Wing commander, right, and Italian air force Col. Luca Crovatti, Italian base commander, pose for a photo with a Madonna Di Loreto statue at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Sept. 27, 2020. Madonna Di Loreto was designated as the Patroness of Aeronauts in 1920 by Pope Benedict XV. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Caleb House)
Holy mass commences at a church in Pordenone, Italy, Sept. 29, 2020. A Madonna Di Loreto statue was on display during holy mass in the churches of Roveredo in Piano, Aviano, and Pordenone to give the local population a unique opportunity to see the holy statue. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Savannah L. Waters)
Italian air force members carry a Madonna Di Loreto statue in Pordenone, Italy, Sept. 29, 2020. The Madonna Di Loreto is on a pilgrimage around Italy in celebration of the centenary of her proclamation as the Patroness of Aeronauts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Savannah L. Waters)
U.S. Air Force and Italian air force leadership attend holy mass in Pordenone, Italy, Sept. 29, 2020. A Madonna Di Loreto statue was on display during holy mass in the churches of Roveredo in Piano, Aviano, and Pordenone to give the local population a unique opportunity to see the holy statue. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Savannah L. Waters)
Two Italian air force members stand guard by a Madonna Di Loreto statue during holy mass in Pordenone, Italy, Sept. 29, 2020. The Madonna Di Loreto is the Patroness of Aeronauts, as declared by Pope Benedict XV. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Savannah L. Waters)
Two Italian air force members stand guard by a Madonna Di Loreto statue in Pordenone, Italy, Sept. 29, 2020. The Madonna Di Loreto is the Patroness of Aeronauts, as declared by Pope Benedict XV. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Savannah L. Waters)
Declared by Pope Benedict XV as the Patroness of Aeronauts in 1920, a Madonna Di Loreto statue is on a pilgrimage around the country in celebration of the centenary. As she makes her way around the country, the Madonna is visiting each Italian air force base, and arrived at Aviano Air Base on Sept. 23, 2020.
A small group of people greeted the holy statue upon her arrival to Aviano, followed by a small ceremony and short dedicated prayer.
“The presence of Our Lady of Loreto, in a year strongly marked by the COVID emergency, serves to further strengthen the moral values of the air force, and of all the armed forces and state institutions, at the service of our beloved country,” said Italian air force Col. Luca Crovatti, Italian base commander.
The Sunday following her arrival, ITAF members carried the Madonna Di Loreto statue from the ITAF Club to the location of the holy mass by a walking procession. Holy mass commenced once she arrived, followed by a luncheon for the attendees.
Events held off base allowed military and community members alike to pay homage to the holy statue.
“I’d like to thank the Bishop of Concordia-Pordenone, Giuseppe Pellegrini, who has allowed us to show the holy statue during the holy mass in the churches of Roveredo in Piano, Aviano, and Pordenone, giving this unique opportunity to the local population by sharing the values and tradition of Our Lady in this Jubilee Year,” said Col. Crovatti.
The holy statue continued her pilgrimage on Sept. 30 as she traveled southwest to Istrana Air Base, the location of ITAF’s 51st Wing.