Francis praises humility of 13th century pontiff on L’Aquila pilgrimage

Pope Francis arrives to open the Holy Door of St Mary in L’Aquila’s Collemaggio Basilica and start the jubilee of forgiveness (Domenico Stinellis/AP)

Pope Francis made a pilgrimage to an Italian mountain town on Sunday and hailed the humility of a 13th century pontiff who resigned to live a hermit’s life, praising him for using his brief papacy to highlight the value of mercy and forgiveness.

Francis made a four-hour visit to L’Aquila, which was struck by an earthquake in 2009, killing 305 people and destroying much of the town, which is still being rebuilt.