A fireman kisses a statue of Mary recovered from a church in Paganica, Italy. (CNS/Reuters)

The Vatican has announced Pope Benedict XVI will visit the Italy’s earthquake-battered Abruzzo region April 28.

By his presence, the Pope will manifest the Church’s solidarity with the Italian families and communities that have suffered death, injury and the loss of homes and jobs due to the April 6 earthquake.

But amidst the devastation, there have been rays of light and hope. We reported on one such instance in this Daily Post entry based on a Times of London article that detailed how an Italian doctor was mysteriously led to where his 20-year-old son lay trapped alive in the rubble.

And in this post, we are highlighting another report by The Times. This one is about how the earthquake brought to light “a long-lost 11th-century fresco depicting the Virgin Mary and infant Jesus.”

The frescos were discovered beneath plaster dislodged by the quake in the church of San Pietro alla Collegiata in the high mountain village of Rocca di Cambio.

“This is wonderful news at a time of so much destruction and sorrow,” Antonio Pace, the mayor of Rocca di Cambio, told The Times. “The appearance of the Madonna and Child is a sign of hope. Nothing short of a miracle.”