Introd confers honorary citizenship
on their summer visitor, the Pope
Translated from
the 12/17 issue of
Benedict XVI has received honorary citizenship in the Commune of Introd, where Les Combes is located, the village in Val D'Aosta, northwest Italy, where he has spent three summer vacations as Pope.
The ceremony took place Wednesday in a salon of the Aula Paolo VI after the General Audience.
Present were the representatives of the region (Val D'Aosta), the mountain area called Gran Paradis which includes Introd, and the commune itself, along with its parish priest, don Ferruccio Brunod.
Addressing the Holy Father, the president of the region, Augustin Rollandin, said that "the truest and most profound meaning of this symbolic gesture is that it represents the affection and devotion" of the local population.
The presence of the Pope, he said, "has become for us a precious appointment" which has "brought Christian teaching much closer to our people". He said the honorary citizenship was "the dutiful acknowledgment of the most important visitor to our valley".
The mayor of Introd, Osvaldo Naudin, after having invited the Pontiff to return to Val D'Aosta, read the parchment with the official decree of conferment which was decided unanimously by the communal council last July 28.
Naudin expressed to Benedict XVI "the gratitude of a small but prideful mountain community. The presence of the Successor of Peter in Les Combes, a place that loves him as it did his predecessor, the unforgettable John Paul II, honors and gives luster to the Commune of Introd".
The Holy Father replied with these remarks:
Mr. President of the Region,
Mr. Mayor,
Reverend Parish Priest,
Ladies and gentlemen:
It is with great joy that I receive this honorary citizenship from the Commune of Introd, where I have spent unforgettable days of rest surrounded by the splendid Alpine panorama which favors an encounter with the Creator and recharges the spirit.
In addressing each of you with a heartfelt greeting, I wish to thank in particular the president of the Autonomous Region of Val D'Aosta, Augusts Rollandin, and the Mayor of Introd, Osvaldo Naudin, for the courteous words they have spoken in the name of those present and the people they represent.
I consider the decision of the communal council of Introd, who have now counted me among the honorary citizens of their community, as a sign of affection from all the Introleins and other inhabitants of the entire Val D'Aosta who have always given me a warm and cordial welcome, that is at the same time, discreet and respectful of my rest and quiet.
Now I can more rightfully say that I am truly at home in Introd, this delightful Alpine locality to which I am linked by grateful memories and a feeling of special spiritual closeness.
At this moment, so many memories come back to me, above all, the chalet in the middle of the woods: a place of spiritual repose with a splendid panorama, and a sign of the affection of the people, the mayor, and all of you.
So many things I could recount. For now, we have talked of what happens with the chalet in winter, and I am happy to know that it is well cared for and protected.
I am happy to learn from the words of Mr. Mayor that my presence in Val d'Aosta - and before me, that of my beloved predecessor John Paul II - has promoted the growth of faith in that population who are so dear to me, who are so rich in Christian traditions and so many signs of religious vitality.
I also know that in that age-old spiritual patrimony, the Church in Val D'Aosta, under the diligent leadership of its pastor, my dear Mons. Giuseppe Anfossi, has been tireless in announcing the ever fresh 'good news' of Jesus, Word of God, who became man to offer us the joy of living - already on this earth - the exalting experience of being beloved children of God.
This task appears particularly urgent in a society that nourishes, especially in the new generations, illusions and false hopes, but whom the Lord calls upon even today to transform itself into the 'family' of the children of God. who live with 'one heart and one spirit' (Acts 4,12) bearing witness to love of life and love of each other.
Dear friends, in renewing to you my expressions of affection and gratitude, I invoke on you, your families and the entire Val d'Aosta the blessing of God.
May the Lord continue to protect your communities and help you to build a future that, in placing God before everything else, will be ever more just, fraternal and full of hope.
Other events after yesterday's General Audience:
With the inter-religious committee of Kuwait
Freedom of worship, proposals for laws to protect religions, and the search for a common cultural formation are the objectives of a Muslim-Christian committee for inter-religious dialog in Kuwait, that were explained to the Pope after the general audience Wwednesday in Aula Paolo VI.
The secretary of the committee, Zuhair Al-Mahmeed, a Shiite Muslim, presented the Pope with a finely bound volume in Arabic containing the proceedings of a forum on Jesus promoted in 2007 by the Islamic Institute Consensus Movement.
Mons, Camillo Bellin, Apostolic Vicar in Kuwait, called it "a sign of dialog and respect".
Also present was evangelical pastor Amanuil Ghareeb, vice president of the committee, which includes Sunni Muslims, Coptic and Orthodox Christians as well as Catholics.
An encyclopedia of bioethics
The first copy of the first volume of the
Enciclopedia di bioetica e scienza giuridica was presented to the Holy Father by Mons. Elio Sgreccia, editor of the bioethics content, and Antonio Tarantino, professor at the Unviersity of lecce, who edited the juridical part.
The encyclopedia will comprise 12 volumes, which will be issued every month in teh next year.
"Today, bioethical questions," Mons. Sgreccia said, "have entered Parliaments which legislate on life and death, on families and chilren. The encyclopedia is an instrument that puts together ethical, anthropological and juridical aspects of these issues."
25 years of Fraternita
A thousand-person delegation "composed of families who have welcomed more than 600 minors as foster children into their families" came to celebrate with the Pope the 25th anniversayr of the association Fraternita, under their president, Mons. Mauro Inzoli,
"Inspired by the educational and charitable charisms of don Giussani
[late founder of Comunione e Liberazione who was firned of Joseph Ratzinger], our focus has been on the family, seeking above all to love each of these children one by one, totally and unconditionally".
Accompanying the pilgrims was Cardinal Ennio Antonelli, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family.
Other guests received yesterday
The Holy Father also met with
- Rumiana Jeleva, Foreign Minister of Bulgaria who later met with Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, Vatican secretary for relations with states.
- US astronauts Scott Altman and Massimo Massimino, who have flown the Space Shuttle, and their families
- Dino Meneghin, president of the Basketball Fderation and a former basketball star himself, who presented the Pope with a ball and a T-shirt of the italian national team personalized with the Pope's name.
Before leaving the audience hall, the Pope blessed this year's Christmas creche which is a gift from the State of Mexico, and thanked its governor, Enrique Pena Nieto, and the promoters of the initiative.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 17/12/2009 12:30]