Zuppi visita Loiano, Monghidoro e Monzuno

12PORTE - June 25, 2026: The Apennines are more than just a territory to be traversed: they are a collection of communities that preserve an ancient history, deep relationships, and a faith that continues to shape daily life. This is the face Cardinal Matteo Zuppi encountered during his Pastoral Visit to the Pastoral Zones of Loiano-Monghidoro and Monzuno, which took place from June 18 to 21. Four days of meetings, listening, and sharing in an area that extends along the Savena, Idice, Setta, and Sambro valleys, crossed by the historic Futa Road and the Via degli Dei, now traversed every year by thousands of hikers. Here, the mountains alternate between beech forests, chestnut groves, and ridges, but above all, they preserve a dense network of small villages and hamlets where the community continues to have a tangible value. The two Pastoral Zones include the municipalities of Loiano, Monghidoro, and Monzuno, with a combined population of approximately fifteen thousand. After decades of depopulation, recent years have seen a reversal of the trend: alongside an increasingly aging population, new families from Bologna are arriving, attracted by the quality of life and the opportunity to work remotely. However, the challenge of aging, the declining birth rate, and the need to maintain services and facilities in the many hamlets remains. The first meeting with the civil and military authorities and the communities of the Pastoral Area was with Father Angelo Baldassarri, Vicar General for Synodality, who represented the Archbishop, who was in Rome attending the funeral of Cardinal Camillo Ruini. The Archbishop made himself present by telephone, also emphasizing the importance of everyone's participation in community life and in building the common good. Here, one of the most distinctive traits of the area emerges. In the mountains, volunteering is not just an experience of solidarity: it is often what makes community life possible. The Alpine troops, Civil Protection, social and health associations, Pro Loco (local tourist board), cultural and sports groups, and village committees form a valuable network that supports people and keeps social ties and popular traditions alive. The economy of this part of the Apennines has changed profoundly. Alongside agriculture and livestock farming, with production of chestnuts, honey, cheeses, and cured meats, artisanal production remains strong, while the service and hospitality sectors are growing. Many residents work every day in Bologna, facilitated by the Direttissima railway and the highway. At the same time, new businesses are developing, including hospitality, agritourism, bed and breakfasts, and hiking. This transformation also includes the Via degli Dei (Way of the Gods), which in recent years has become one of the most popular hiking trails in Italy. The Archbishop met with the Area Committees, an expression of the lay participation in the pastoral life that continues to characterize these communities. In areas where distances are significant and services are not always easily accessible, collaboration between citizens, administrations, and parishes becomes a crucial element for the quality of life, including pastoral care. The meeting with educators, catechists, and youth workers from Summer Camp was particularly significant. Education is one of the most significant challenges in the mountains. Children attend local schools, but from high school onward, commuting to Bologna or other provincial towns becomes almost inevitable. Many young people, once they graduate from university, never return. Yet, it is precisely here that new youth entrepreneurship experiences are emerging, especially in the tourism, agriculture, and outdoor activities sectors. The parish education network also continues to be a fundamental point of reference for many families. It is a land of ancient faith. The medieval parish churches, the Marian shrines, and the small churches scattered throughout the woods speak of a Christian presence that has accompanied the life of the communities for centuries. From devotion to the Madonna dei Boschi, deeply connected to the sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca, to the patronal festivals that still today represent gatherings for the entire population, popular religiosity continues to be an integral part of the Apennines' identity. Walking the mountain roads to strengthen communities in their faith, listening to their questions, sharing their struggles, and recognizing the many signs of hope already present: even in the smallest villages of the Apennines, the heart of the Church of Bologna continues to beat.