Pope chooses Salesian priest
to preach 2010 Lenten exercises
Translated from
dEC. 29, 2007
Salesian priest Fr. Enrico del Covolo has been chosen by Pope BVenedict XVI to preach the Lenten spiritual exercises for the Pope and the Roman Curia in 2010, it was learned yesterday from the Salesian information office.
The seven-day spiritual retreat is held during the first week of Lent at the Redemptoris Mater chapel of the Apostolic Palace.
Fr. del Covolo, 59, is the Postulator-General of the order founded by St. John Bosco (the Postulator General internally oversees the causes of Salesians nominated for beatification and canonization). He is also a tenured professor of ancient Christian literature at the Pontifical Salesian University.
A member of the Pontifical Committee on Historical Sciences, he has been a consultant to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith since 2002.
He is the third Salesian called to carry out this special assignemnt. In 1997, Paul VI chose Fr. Antonio Javiarra Ortas, then rector of the Salesian university in Rome, later named cardinal; and in 1986, John Paul II chose Fr. Egidio Vigano, another rector.
Benedict XVI has so far chosen four emeritus ardinals - Marco Ce of Venice, 2005; Giacomo Biffi of Bologna, 2006; theologian Albert VanHoye, 2007; and Francis Arinze of Nigeria, 2008.
In the Year for Priests, he has decided to name a priest.
Both John Paul II and Benedict XVI preached the Lenten exercises as cardinals.