A BLESSED JULY 4TH TO ALL...AND A HOLY SABBETH.

Pope praises life of 13th-century pontiff who quit

SULMONA, Italy — Pope Benedict XVI has traveled to a central Italian town to pay homage to Celestine V, the 13th-century hermit pontiff who resigned, saying he was not up to the task.

Benedict urged the faithful Sunday to learn from Celestine's sober and simple life. He praised Celestine for his detachment from material things such as money and clothes.

Benedict said that "we, too, who live in an epoch of greater comfort and possibilities, are called upon to appreciate a sober lifestyle."

During his daylong visit, Benedict also sought to encourage the faithful still suffering from the April 2009 earthquake in this region. The pope had visited the area soon after the quake, praying before the salvaged remains of Celestine.