BENEDICT XVI: NEWS, PAPAL TEXTS, PHOTOS AND COMMENTARY

Tomorrow Benedict XVI pays homage
to Leo XIII in Carpineto Romano

Sept. 4, 2010



From left: Palazzo Pecci, the ancestral home of the Pecci counts in Carpineto; the mayor of Carpineto; a formal portrait of Papa Pecci; and Rerum Novarum.

On the bicentennial year of the birth of Pope Leo XIII, Benedict XVI will visit his hometown of Carpineto Romano, some 80 kms from Rome, tomorrow. The Holy Father will preside at Holy Mass at 9:30 a.m., and will return by helicopter to Castel Gandolfo in time for the noon Angelus. Amedeo Lomonaco reports:

Many historic dates are associated with Carpineto but doubtless, the most important so far is February 20, 1878, when Gioacchino Pecci, born in Carpineto to a family of counts on March 2, 1810, became Pope Leo XIII.

It was an era marked by radical social and economic changes in the world. These profound transformations of modern society would be the basis for Leo XIII's historic encyclical Rerum Novarum in 1891.

In what was the first encyclical to enunciate the social doctrine of the Catholic Church, Leo XIII, among other things, urged Catholic workers to organize and called for greater state intervention in social issues.

In Carpineto itself, numerous social works were undertaken under Leo's Pontificate, such as an orphanage and children's home, a school, a hospice for the aged, a water system that brought water down from nearby Monte Carpino; and public lighting through electricity, which made Carpineto one of the first in Italy to benefit of that development.

Today, in Carpineto, there are markers to Leo XIII in various streets, squares and roads.

This will be the third visit of a Pope to this little city on Monte Lepini in the mountains of Lazio. Paul VI came in 1966 for the 75th anniversary of Rerum novarum, and John Paul II in 1991.

The visit of Benedict XVI - whose last encyclical Caritas in Veritate continued the tradition of social encyclicals begun by Leo XIII - is a source of great pride and joy for Carpineto, which wakes up each day to the sight of a monumental Cross on the peak of nearby Monte Capreo.

We spoke to Mons. Lorenzo Loppa, Bishop of Anagni-Alatri and principal host for the papal visit tomorrow:

MONS. LOPPA: This is a grace for us, an unearned gift, and as I have often told our people, our clergy and religious, we must seek to earn this gift not just before the Pope's visit but after. The great hope is that he may provide new impulse to the renewal of the conditions that face us today.

Rightly and surely, Leo XIII is remembered for Rerum novarum which is fundamental for governing relations between employers and workers, and for a human society that must be shaped in the light of the Gospel.

Just as certainly, there is a rainbow that goes from Rerum novarum to Caritas in veritate. The Gospel is yeast for a human society built on love that is illuminated by reason but above all, by faith.

In this pastoral trip honoring Leo XII, in fact, we see a conjunction. Though the historical circumstances are different, but what unites the two Popes is their important contribution to the social doctrine of the Church...
Of course, the circumstances are different, but the principles of the Gospel do not change. In constructing a new world, we Christians do not have specific tools. But we do have radical principles which we can contribute and make concrete ourselves. This was true in the time of Leo XIII as it is today.

Let us dwell on Leo XIII: Gioacchino Pecci was elected Pope in 1878, after the Breach of Porta Pia [when Italian troops entered Rome by opening a breach next to the historic gate and conquered Rome to complete the unification of Italy] and during a time of great social and economic changes. What do you think is the legacy of his Pontificate to us today?
The commitment to look at the world and society without prejudice. What strikes me most about Leo XIII is that he was able to unite his clarity of principles and language to his gentle and comprehensive look at modernity, at the advance of the new. This is fundamental for enabling the Church to be in dialog with the world. [One could say exactly the same of Benedict XVI, who must, however, confront a secularization undreamed of in the time of Leo XIII - and has done so constantly, consistently and in no uncertain terms.!]

Drawing from Leo XIII's Magisterium, and particularly, from Rerum novarum as a milestone for the social doctrine of the Church, what challenges does the Church face today?
I think, first of all, of so many issues inherent in Catholic education, but above all, in the formation of priests and seminarians. Then, lessons from his many writings about families, and his encouragement for Catholic associations, including labor unions.

Rerum novarum also makes clear the critical relationship between faith and history, between the Gospel and society. Which constitutes in part the novelty of Christianity - it brings together the mystery of God with the mystery of man. The Gospel is for man to follow in constructing a society more worthy of the Creator, adn therefore, more worthy of man.

Carpineto was one of the first places in Italy to have public lighting through electricity, thanks to Leo XIII...
Papa Leone always had sincere affection for his hometown, and that is why so many places here are named after him. But I think the most beautiful gift he brought to Carpineto was the presence of some religious orders whom he wanted to operate in his hometown [principally, the Carmelites, who have a monastery in Carpineto]. This virtuous consequence can be felt tangibly even today.

How did you prepare for this visit?
With enthusiasm, with affection, with great serenity. Above all, we want to welcome the Pope and his visit as a gift. This is a community of 5,000 inhabitants in a mountain location, therefore the logistical and organizational preparation was considerable. But the most beautiful has been the spiritual preparation. We want to tell the Pope that we love him and that we pray daily for him to continue being a courageous witness to the sovereignty of Jesus Christ, Lord of history and Lord of the world.

The presence of religious orders in Carpineto is discussed by Augustinian Fr. Ludovico Centra:

FR. CENTRA: Carpineto was always a blessed place. Today, we have the convent of the Carmelite nuns and two convents of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. And we Augustinians along with the Franciscans have been here for many centuries. In fact, the principal patron saint of Carpineto is St. Augustine.

We can say that almost every family here has a member who is a priest, a nun, or a consecrated person. This is definitely a blessing from the Lord. People always tell me that the principal reason for this is Marian devotion - the Immaculate Conception is the other patron saint, since Dec. 6, 1657.

And I like to think that Carpineto is particularly blessed by God and the Virgin Mary, especially since it also had the great honor of giving birth to a Pope of the stature of Leo XIII. For us, these are all great signs that remind us to keep our faith and loyalties strong...

When the Italian state upon reunification suppressed religious orders and convents, Leo XIII personally reacquired the lands and properties of the Franciscans and Augustinians in Carpineto, and gave it back to them. This was not just a spiritual and cultural benefit, but also assistential, because one of the first consequences was the establishment of a hospital.

Fr. Ludovico, you are a native of Carpineto yourself. How would you describe your hometown to others?
I love the mountain that 'overlooks' Carpineto - Monte Capreo. In 1900, Leo XIII had the monumental Cross built on its peak. I remember that once, when it was being restored, it was taken down from its pedestal - and promptly, there were urgent calls from all the surrounding localities wanting to know what had happened - as though, without the Cross, Monte Capreo had ceased to be! It has been a reference point for all the area.

In autumn it is particularly beautiful, with the diverse coloring of foliage in its chestnuts, hornbeam birches ['carpino' in Italian, from which the place gets its name] and beeches. It is a sight that has always lifted my spirits, towards the Cross.

Then, we have this beautiful traditions connected with the harvest of chestnuts and olives. They are simple things that provide an occasion for the community to get together and to work together, thus maintaining a family atmosphere that is almost impossible to keep in larger towns. On every street and pathway, you can experience this 'familial' feeling, and even a stranger immediately feels he, too, is a Carpinetano. Plus, the air is always fresh and clean. It is a small town, but its heart is warm and strong.


Mons. Loppa says Carpineto awaits
Benedict XVI with joy and hope
by GIANNI CARDINALE
Translated from

Sept. 4, 2010




"This visit by the Holy Father is something we have dreamed about that is finally taking place." Mons. Morenzo Loppa, 63, Bishop of Anagni-Alatri since 2002, cannot hide his joy for Benedict XVI's visit tomorrow to Carpineto Romano,the historical town in his diocese which gave birth two centuries ago to a predecessor of Papa Ratzinger, Leo XIII, who was born Vincenzo Gioacchino Pecci, and was Pope from 1878-1903.


Excellency, tell us how this dream materialized.
On November 12, 2008, I took part with some local authorities and the faithful of Carpineto at the General Audience of the Pope. We took the opportunity to invite him to come for teh bicentennial celebration of Leo XIII's birth. Following that, we discreetly followed up on the invitation.

Then, on December 7 last year - I still remember the moment with great emotion - I got a telephone call from the Pontifical Household to inform me that the Pope would come to Carpineto for the celebration. Imagine the joy with which we received the news!

Why do you think the invitation was accepted?
First, it's an easy trip from Castel Gandolfo. I believe Benedict XVI has great esteem for Leo XIII, and besides, as a cardinal, he was quite linked to our diocese by ties of sympathy and affection. As a cardinal, he was the titular Bishop of Velletri-Segni; he is very familiar with the Cathedral and other historical places in Anagni [seat of the diocese, and a city of Popes, in its own way, because in the 13th century, it gave the Church four Popes, each of them quite historical, and because before Castel Gandolfo, it had been the summer residence of the Popes] and at least twice, he visited the Pontifical Collegio Leoniano. Then, it was in Subiaco where he delivered on April 1, 2005, that unforgettable lecture on Europe, just 18 days before he would be elected Pope.

Not to mention that two of his immediate predecessors had visited Carpineto...
Yes. In 1966, Paul VI came to Carpineto for the 75th anniversary of Rerum novarum, and in 1991, John Paul II came to celebrate its first centennial.

What is the ecclesial picture that the Pope will see?
Ours is a fairly small diocese, with a long history of the faith, but always committed to keep it fresh and lively in all its 56 parishes and in its religious life, among which I must cite three monasteries of cloistered nuns - the Carmelites in Carpineto, the Poor Clares in Anagni, and the Benedictines in Alatri.

Then we have more than 40 confraternities as well as Catholic Action units in half of the parishes. It is a diocese that breathes, so to speak, with special lungs. It has the Shrine of the Most Holy Trinity in Vallepietra which receives some 400,000 pilgrims yearly during the pilgrimage period from May 1-November 1, who go to confession and receive communion as part of the pilgrimage.

Then, there is the Collegio Leoniano which I mentioned earlier - it is the major seminary for the suburbicarian and southern dioceses of the Lazio region. And Fiuggi, despite the economic crisis, remains a first-rank conference venue with facilities that are highly appreciated not just by church organizations.

What is the social situation in the diocese?
Of course, we feel the crisis. Especially since our territory became strongly industrialized, at the expense of its rooted agricultural tradition and its natural touristic potential. Many factories have closed, dismissed workers are on unemployment benefits, and many are on the move to seek greener pastures.

How have you prepared for the Pope's visit?
We are a small community but we love the Pope. We have not prepared anything extraordinary. The diocese decreed a Leonine Year to commemorate Papa Pecci's bicentennial, and Pope Benedict's visit is the climax. We prepared our faithful by exposing them to selected expositions of the Word of God and to testimonials of faith which can impress even young people by their beauty and power.

What are your expectations?
We are awaiting the Pope with joy, with enthusiasm and with hope. The civilian authorities also hope for greater attention to be shown to our region. For the Church, we expect most his words of comfort and support to confirm us in our faith.

Like the other dioceses in Italy, we face a demanding decade in which we must confront the educational crisis, which concerns not just the new generations but we the adults who must be their educators.

A final word about Carpineto?
It is a special place. It is filled with community works that began with Leo XIII. Things like the water system, or the monumental Cross that he had constructed for the Jubilee Year of 1900. But also his spiritual legacy. he wanted a strong presence in Carpineto of the consecrated life.

One other thing is that the communal council of Carpineto dedicated the town to the Immaculate Conception on Dec. 6, 1657, two centuries before the dogma was proclaimed.