AOSTA, JULY 10 (ZENIT.org)

    John Paul II arrived in the Aosta Valley Monday to enjoy his summer vacation until July 22. This is the eighth time that the little mountain village of Combes, nestled in the Italian Alps, welcomes the Pope.

    It was raining when the Holy Father landed around 11:30 a.m. in the airport of the city of Aosta, on an "Airvallee" flight. He was greeted by regional authorities and many tourists and pilgrims who had been waiting for him since early morning. The Holy Father went by car to the village where his summer house is, from which he can see Mont Blanc, the highest peak in Europe.

    As the official welcome took place at the airport, when he arrived at Les Combes the Pope was greeted by local villagers. It was almost like a family gathering, as all know the Pope well. The children of the school of Introd recited a poem in the local dialect, composed for the occasion.

    The Holy Father will spend these days in the silence of nature. He will have no public engagements, with the exception of his traditional meeting with pilgrims at noon on Sunday to pray the "Angelus," which will be recited in the area surrounding the house where he is staying. The Pope has gone to the Alps to rest, and the local people are doing everything possible to respect his need for tranquility.

    As opposed to other years, when the Holy Father stayed in a chalet rented from a family in the village, this time he is enjoying a chalet that was built in record time this past year. Known as the "Foyer du fond," the building will be used by the guardian of a sports structure for long-distance runners. The house is made of stone and wood, and has an elevator, unlike the other location.

    "When we heard that the house might accommodate the Pope, it stimulated our work. Precisely because of this, we gave special attention to the living room, which has a stupendous bay window from which one can enjoy the Mont Blanc chain, the most beautiful view of Les Combes," explained the construction team.

    For his part, Bishop Giuseppe Anfossi of Aosta did not hide his pleasure at being able "to offer the Pontiff a necessary pause in this most important year of the Jubilee for the Church, which, undoubtedly, is sapping much of his energy." The Bishop drew a lesson from the visit: "The Pope also teaches us that vacations can be scheduled, that they is something necessary."

    Recalling last year's holiday, Bishop Anfossi said: "Our last conversation before he left was like a slide show. With great satisfaction he described to me the places that most impressed him. It was obvious that the Valley remained in his retina."

    In addition to dedicating himself to prayer and the contemplation of God in nature, over these days John Paul II will go on excursions to the mountains, enjoy the conversation of old friends, read books he never finds time for when he is working, and he review ideas for important addresses, documents, and trips for the second half of the Jubilee. (He has yet to complete his pilgrimage to the places of Revelation, in the footsteps of St. Paul in Damascus and, if possible, Athens.) ZE00071006

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