The Pope is heading to northern Italy to comfort survivors of two earthquakes last month in which 24 people died.

Benedict XVI is due to arrive in Rovereto Di Novi, near Modena, where the parish priest was killed when he went back into the church after the May 29 quake to try to save its statue of the Madonna.

Today, the statue was on display in front of the church where the Pope will pray.

He is also due to meet residents of the tiny town, much of which has been declared off-limits because buildings remain too unstable from the 5.8-magnitude quake. A 6.0-magnitude quake struck nearby on May 20.

Resident Albino Lodi said he hoped the visit would "bring a smile to the faces of these people".

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