Italian priest relives Pope Leo’s historic pastoral visit to Acerra

By Angella Rwezaula

Pope Leo XIV visited Acerra, the “Land of Fires” (Terra dei Fuochi) on May 23, 2026.

Fr. Luigi Pugliese serves as Rector of the Ave Maria Gratia Plena Shrine, known as the Shrine of the Annunciation, in Giugliano in Campania, and was particularly touched by the Holy Father’s gestures and words.

The Pope, he said, came to “comfort us. He visited and comforted families affected by toxic waste dumping.”

The wounds of the land

The criminally linked dumping and illegal burning of toxic waste in the area have caused severe environmental damage and elevated cancer rates.

During the visit, Pope Leo was uncompromising in his denunciation of the greed and systemic indifference that had created the crisis in the area.

“My land, unfortunately, is known as the ‘Land of Fires,” said Fr. Pugliese. “It is a land of many wounds caused by the toxic waste. We bear the marks of these wounds through disease, especially various cancers. But there are other hidden wounds as well—a poor education system, unemployment, young people into drugs, superstitious beliefs, depression, and that malaise of life which often extinguishes hope. Pope Leo came to rekindle the embers of that hope.”

“Among the words that summarise the significance of the Holy Father’s visit and words that left us with a great comfort and commitment is ‘dignity.’ The dignity of the human person cannot be sacrificed for economic interests, profit, or partisan logic,” Fr. Pugliese said, adding that the dignity of the human person needs to be defended at all costs.

Priesthood: listening, service, and charity

Incidentally, Fr. Pugliese celebrates his priestly silver jubilee this week on June 23. Asked about what has kept him going in priestly ministry, he credits his deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

“In these twenty-five years, I have lived different seasons of priesthood: the early years as an assistant pastor, then seventeen years as a parish priest in San Matteo, and in the last three years, as Rector of Ave Maria Gratia Plana Sanctuary of Giugliano in Campania,” he said. “In all these priestly seasons, just as Pope Leo said to all of us priests, recently, on the occasion of the day of prayer for the sanctification of priests celebrated on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Pope reminded us that a vocation is a gift received not to be kept jealously, but to be shared. A gift that becomes authentic only when it becomes closeness, listening, service, and charity.”

Popular piety in Naples

Fr. Pugliese said becoming Rector of Ave Maria Gratia Plena Sanctuary was like coming home. He has had a special attachment to the shrine for years. It is an attachment that has deep roots.

“My vocation was born twenty-five years ago within the Sanctuary, but the roots go even further back,” narrated Fr. Pugliese. “I was just 7 years old when my mother took me to liturgical celebrations and festivals dedicated to the Virgin Mary. I still remember the simple and intense joy with which I lived those moments. Mary has been a constant presence in my priestly journey, a mother who took me by the hand and led me toward Her Son.”

For the people of Giugliano, devotion to Our Lady is the heartbeat of their faith. Marian devotions and festivities in the area have ancient historic roots, wrapped in the charm of tradition and the strength of hope.

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