Como commemorates Bishops Felice and Abbondio

The Ambrosian calendar commemorates the feast of two significant bishops of the Church of Como: Felice and Abbondio. Felice is recognized as the first bishop of the see, known primarily through correspondence with Saint Ambrose. Abbondio, the third successor to Felice, lived in the 5th century and was consecrated in 449. He served as a legate to Constantinople for Pope Leo the Great and worked to strengthen the ecclesial community against various heresies.

In a related observance at the Basilica of Sant’Abbondio, a message was issued to the citizens and authorities of Como. The message, delivered during the solemnity of Saint Abbondio, serves as a final address from the Bishop of Como ahead of the conclusion of his episcopal ministry. The address emphasizes the need for peace, dialogue, and fraternity in a world marked by conflict, calling for a culture of encounter rather than hostility and destruction.