“The bond between Benedict XVI and Saint Augustine is very strong and recalls his theological education, especially his doctorate, that he took in 1953 about ‘The people and house of God in Saint Augustine’s doctrine of the Church”: it was said today in the Vatican during the press conference for the presentation of the Pope’s trip to the dioceses of Vigevano and Pavia (21 and 22 April) by father Vittorino Grossi, professor at the “Augustinianum”. “Joseph Ratzinger, appointed Pope, in his ministry often refers to Saint Augustine’s philosophy he added especially with reference to the comments of the Psalms by the Bishop of Hippo”. Then, the scholar recalled the relation between Augustine, Celestine I (422-432) and Martin I (649-655), who supported the Bishop of Hippo, defining him one of the "best masters of the Church”, the bearer of "a humble and at the same time bright magisterium”. Father Giustino Casciano recalled that the dates of Benedict XVI’s visit are the closest to April 24th, the date of Augustine’s conversion and baptism. The director of the Newsroom, father Lombardi, mentioned that "the urn with the mortal spoils of the saint has four locks, kept by the Bishop, the Prior of the Basilica, the Mayor of the city and the Chapter of the Cathedral, respectively, thus showing that Augustine belongs to all the components of the city without distinctions”.
