Remembering Leo XIII
born 200 years ago today
Translated from
the Italian service of
March 2, 2010
The satellite image also shows Sulmona, the first pastoral visit outside Rome this year for the Pope, where he will pay homage to another Pope, St. Celestine V, born near Sulmona 800 years ago.
On March 2 two hundred years ago, a baby was born in Carpineto Romano, s small town 70 kilometers southeast of Rome, who would pass into history as one of the most long-lived and farsighted of Popes.
Leo XIII, born Vincenzo Pecci, was Pope from 1878 to 1903, living to the ripe age of 93. His name is most linked to his encyclical
Rerum novarum (Of new things), considered the first magisterial statement of the social doctrine of the Church.
These days, the commune of Carpineto Romano (5,000 inhabitants) and the diocese of Anagni-Alatri are observing the Anno Leoniano (Leonine Year) to remember their illustrious son. The year's highlight will be the visit of Benedict XVI on September 5.
Alessandro De Carolis spoke to the Bishop, Mons. Lorenzo Loppa, who underscored the continuing relevance today of Leo XIII:
MONS LOPPA: Leo XIII's Magisterium spanned many elements of Christian life, but in particular, certain elements that are very relevant even today. The universal Church is now observing the Year for Priests - Papa Pecci wrote a great deal on the formation of clergy in different nations, on the proper formation of seminarians.
Today, in Italy, we are engaged in meeting the educational challenge as urged on by the Holy Father, but Leo XIII too wrote quite a lot on the educational challenge.
His third theme of continuing relevance is the Gospel, which he said should be the yeast for growth in a community in which everyone must be respected in his dignity, his freedom, his development.
I would say that his Magisterium was rooted very solidly in tradition but was very open to
res novae (new things), even with that ironic smile that was characteristic of him - Leo XII was shrewd and refined both physically and in his words.
Right photo, above: Leo XIII's tomb in St. John Lateran Basilica; left photo below, Leo XIII in his coronation regalia; he was 68.
Leo XII was a great Pope but also an illustrious Carpinetano. What has been your relationship to this great figure?
Of course, the residents of Carpineto call him 'our Pope', and during my pastoral visit there in 2008, I realized how much the work of this Supreme Pontiff, the interest which he never lost for the place of his birth, is very real today in the presence of so many religious communities there. In particular, he wanted the presence there of the Sisters of the Sacrament and of the Augustinians.
[There is also a Carmelite monastery which is particularly devoted to him.]
In six months, the Pope will be visiting your diocese, How are you preparing for this event?
On the spiritual level and the Christian life, I would say we are preparing very well. My Lenten message always takes off from the Pope's Lenten message, and this year, Benedict XVI's message is on the justice of Christ, a justice that is greater and beyond human justice.
For this year, I declared a whole year, starting today up to March 2, 2011, dedicated to the rediscovery and study in depth of the teachings of Leo XIII. We will have a variety of events - a convention in Carpineto, spiritual gatherings, conferences... I have asked the diocesan clergy to use Leo XIII's Magisterium as material to help them prepare for Pope Benedict's visit.
Panoramas of Carpineto Romano.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 19/07/2010 00:39]