In addition to the four Papal texts delivered in Brescia and Concesio, L'Osservatore Romano for 11/9-11/10/09,
also featured this editorial and a wrap-up story:
In the sign of Montini
Editorial by
Giovanni Maria Vian
Translated from
the 11/09-11/10/09 issue of
Giovanni Battista Montini left his natal land while still quite young, shortly after his ordination as a priest, but he always remained very attached to his tiny Brescian hometown, where his family roots were, returning there every time he could.
Elected pope in the Conclave of 1963 and taking the name Paul VI, he was never able to visit again his 'Brixia fidelis', for whom - he told his townmates visiting Rome - he always carried in his heart the wish that it may always keep its 'great vitality and great faith'.
Almost as if to make up for Papa Montini's delicate discretion, two of his successors have visited his Lombard diocese: John Paul II twice, in 1982 and 1988, and Benedict XVI last Sunday - both of them linked to Paul VI from the time of Vatican II, both of them his 'creatures', since he made them both cardinals. As Pope Benedict recalled with gratitude in evoking that bond of 'affection and devotion'.
So many Brescians joined him yesterday in his homage to Paul VI with a warmth that enlivened a grey autumn day: In Botticino, venerating the most recent saint of the diocese, don Arcangelo Tadini, and then in the city, where he prayed for the victims of domestic terrorism, and finally in Concesio, where Montini was born and baptized in 1897.
Recently moved to Concesio, in a magnificent headquarters inaugurated by the Pope yesterday, is the Istituto Paolo VI which awarded its International Price this year - a true Catholic Nobel Prize - to Sources Chretiennes, the French book series which has for almost 60 years republished the earliest texts of the Christian tradition.
Before the Cathedral where Montini was ordained a priest, surrounded by the bishops of Lombardy led by their metropolitan [Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi, Archbishop of Milan], Benedict XVI presided at a Eucharistic concelebration that was impressive for its solemn composure which not even the continuing rain could shake.
Benedict XVI explained the Gospel and reminded the faithful of the 'inestimable' gift represented by the enduring lessons from their 'great Pope'.
All his life, Paul VI rendered witness to the truth, in his encounter with contemporary man which, in his time as today, meant Catholicism confronting both the oblivion of God as well as non-Christian religions.
In the face of the post-Conciliar difficulties, Montini declared that the Pope was not dutybound "to follow any line other than trust in Jesus Christ, which impels his Church more than anything else".
In the same way, shortly after being elected, his present successor had disclosed his 'true program of governance' as Pope: "not to follow my ideas, but to listen, with all the Church, to the Word and the will of the Lord... in order that he himself may lead the Church at this time in our history".
Here was the OR's wrap-up story:
The welcome of 'faithful Brescia'
by Gianluca Biccini
Translated from
the 11/09-11/10/09 issue of
Brixia fidelis, 'faithful Brescia', enthusiastically welcomed Benedict XVI during his pastoral visit on Sunday. Nov. 8.
Despite a rainy day, tens of thousands turned out into the streets along the papal route from the Ghedi airbase to Botticino Sera, to the capital city, then to Concesio, to greet Benedict XVI who had come to render homage to 'their' Pope, Paul VI.
The diocese into which the Servant of God was born, the land in which Giovanni Battista Montini matured his vocation for the priesthood, lived a day of prayer and fasting with Papa Ratzinger who recalled his 'bond of affection and devotion' with the Brescian Pope, going back, as he recalled, "to the years of the Second Vatican Council".
On his 17th pastoral visit in Italy, Benedict XVI paid homage to the memory of this "teacher of life and courageous witness to hope", exalting 'his personality and his doctrine', his lesson which represents even today "an inestimable gift for the Church".
A visit - his second to Lombardy, after Vigevano and Pavia in May 2007 - that was all in the name of his predecessor, sealed with his inauguration of the new headquarters for the Istituto Paolo VI in Concesio, located on the very property where the future Pope was born.
As a gift to the Institute, he brought two manuscripts by Montini. They were the texts for his address on the occasion of an audience on November 12, 1969, to the members of the Pia Opera Bresciani who celebrated their fourth centenary; and for a homily in St. Peter's Basilica on May 16, 1971 to mark the 80th anniversary of Leo XIII's encyclical
Rerum novarum .
During the 10 hours he spent in Brescia and Concesio, Benedict XVI also made a brief stop in Botticino Sera where he gave unscheduled remarks to the parishioners, after venerating the remains of St. Arcangelo Tadini at their parish church, the Brescian priest he canonized at St. Peter's last April.
The Pope left the Vatican by helicopter at 8 a.m. for Ciampino airport, where he took an Italian military Airbus to Brescia. He was accompanied by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, who is a native of Brescia himself; Archbishops Fernando Filoni, deputy Secretary of State for internal affairs, and James Harvey, prefect of the Pontifical Household; Bishop Paolo De Nicolo, Harvey's regent; Mons. Georg Gänswein; Dr. Patrizio Polisca; Fr. Ciro Benedettini, vice director of the Vatican Press Office, and our editor, Giovanni Maria Vian.
Also joining the papal flight, for the second time since the Pope's visit to Cagliari in September 2008, was Gianni Letta, undersecretary to the Prime Minister's cabinet, representing the Italian government on the official welcoming committee for the Pope.
Welcoming the Pope at Ghedi airbase were Mons. Luciano Monari, Bishop of Brescia; Antonio Zanardi Landi, Italian ambassador to the Holy See; Roberto Formigoni, president of Lombardy region; and mayor Adriano Paroli of Brescia.
Going towards the city, the Popemobile passed through the suburbs of Visano, Castenedolo, Virle and Rezzato, before stopping at Botticino Sera. Everywhere, faithful who were oblivious of the inclement weather waved miniature Vatican flags. "We distributed 20,000 in this area", said one of the organizers.
At the door to the parish church where St. Arcangelo spent his priestly life, the Pope was welcomed by the parish priest Don Raffaele Licini, the Mayor of Botticino, Mario Sonetti, and a crowd of some 2500.
Prominent among the Pope's welcomers were the Worker Sisters of the Holy House of Nazareth, the congregation founded by St. Arcangelo, and hundreds of children.
Then, the entrance into Brescia - which Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger had visited in March 1986 - through the Sant'Eufemia neighborhood, with streamers along the streets, so many people at their windows or on their doorsteps, joyous manifestations of welcome such as the bells pealing from the Combonian seminary or an improvised percussion performance by Africans in front of the church of Sts. Faustino and Giovita, patrons of Brescia. They were a reminder of how so many immigrants have been integrated into this province which is proverbial for its industry.
The Pope also paused for a prayer and a blessing before the marker in the city's central Piazza della Loggia, where a terrorist bomb killed eight persons and wounded 94 on May 28, 1974.
The Popemobile reached the Cathedral of Brescia just when the rain was coming down most heavily. The Pope was greeted by the clamorous welcome of youth groups, as well as by city and church officials who gave him a formal welcome.
He then entered the Cathedral, welcomed by its canons, and stopped to admire the bronze monument to Paul VI. Invited within the Church were the seminarians of the diocese, with whom he posed for pictures; and many sick persons who would follow the Mass from inside the Church and whom the Pope blessed.
At the Mass in Piazza Paolo VI facing the Cathedral, concelebrating with the Pope were Mons. Monari; Cardinals Re, Tettamanzi (Archbishop of Milan), and Paul Poupard, emeritus President of the Pontifical Councilf or Culture; Archbishops Filoni and Harvey, Bishop De Nicolo, Mons. Gaenswein, some 30 Lombard prelates, and 400 diocesan priests.
The prayers for the faithful included one for families most suffering from the economic crisis.
At the end of the Mass, one hour behind schedule, the Pope led the Angelus.
The first part of the visit ended for the Pope at the Centro Pastorale Paolo VI, where he met the organizing committee which had mobilized 2,000 volunteers to assist with the crowds.
The Centro Patorale itself, directed by Mons. Gianfranco Mescher, housed the Istituto Paolo VI before it moved to Concesio.
At the Pope's luncheon with the bishops of Lombardy, one of the guests was Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, emeritus Archbishop of Milan.
In the afternoon, Benedict XVI visited Concesio, the town where on September 26, 1897, Giovanni Battista Montini first saw light. Once again, clusters of faithful lined the route from Brescia.
At the Montini family home, the Pope was welcomed by Mayor Stefano Ratali and the president of the Istituto Paolo VI, Guiseppe Camadini. Privately, the Pope met with the Sisters of Mary Help of Christians who take care of the house, and some descendants of the Montinis.
He then visited the rooms which have been turned into a museum in memory of Paul VI. He signed the guest book with the same pen that John Paul II had used in 1982.
After this visit, he walked to the headquarters of the Istituto Paolo VI at the rear of the Montini property.
An international center for scholars researching the life and work of the Brescian Pope, the Institute's first secretary general had been Nello Vian, father of our editor.
The inaugural ceremony for the new building took place in the auditorium. The program included the awarding of the Paul VI International Prize to the French book series Sources Chretiennes, represented by its editor, Bernard Meunier.
Finally, Benedict XVI went to the Pieve neighborhood of Concesio, where he was welcomed by the parish priest, Mons. Dino Osio, to the Church of Sant'Antonino, where baby Montini was baptized.
The Pope delivered an address to the parishioners, bid them goodbye, and left for Ghedi airbase and the flight to Rome.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 12/11/2009 01:52]