Here's a nice sidebar and photograph from a Palermo blog...And more photos of the youth event with the Pope from the Palermo edition of
La Repubblica...
Young people thank the Pope
for 'Summorum Pontificum'
by Antonella Folgheretti
Translated from
Oct. 3, 2010 - At the encounter of youth and family representatives with Benedict XVI at Piazza Politeama, a group of
traditional-Mass enthusiasts had a large banner across one of the residences overlooking the square, which read "Thank you,
Holy Father, for the gift of Summorum Pontificum".
The gratitude is for the liberalization through the 2007 Motu Proprio of the traditional Mass also called the Latin Mass or the
Gregorian Mass.
In some Sicilian cities, the traditional Mass is celebrated every Sunday with the participation largely of young people who have
received the Pope's Motu Proprio very favorably.
But apparently, some people in the building who do not welcome Summorum Pontificum used their influence with the authorities,
because eventually, some men from the city's special operations division showed up to demand that the streamer be removed!
[The story does not say whether the streamer was removed, after all, since the photo provided seemed to have been taken rather late - I lightened up
the picture through Photobucket editing enough to show the words on the streamer.]
On Saturday evening, many pilgrims from out of town who arrived in Palermo for the Pope's visit took part in the prayer vigil
in Piazza San Francesco promoted by traditional Sicilian religious associations.
And here are more photos before and during the youth rally from
The Pope listens to
the young people of Sicily
by ALESSANDRA TURRISI
Translated from
Oct. 4, 2010
PALERMO - They want a compass to help them follow the right way even as so many sirens are tempting them with attractions
that last only briefly.
All they needed was a gesture, a word said in the right tone, and all it took were the words 'Take courage' said by the Holy Father
for them to explode into shattering applause, as though they had been liberated.
The young people of Sicily - or their representative present on Sunday afternoon - showed that they believe in being agents
of change, despite all the troubles of their land.
Piazza Politeama was a tide of people by the early hours of the afternon. They enjoyed performances by Sicilian groups, until their
emcee announced the arrival of the Holy Father in the Popemobile for the last event of his day in Palermo.
Benedict XVI made the rounds of the crowd to greet them before taking to the stage. He embraced emcee Massimo Minutella who
appeared to be in seventh heaven but nonetheless articulated a plea for the Pope not to forget the young people of Sicily
and to carry them in his heart.
Two very enthusiastic young people, David and Giorgia - like the rest of the crowdm, they had attended the two-day regional
conference on and for young people and families held Friday and Sunday - bounded onstage, and a few steps away from the
Pope, they mastered their emotions enough to speak to him in behalf of all the others about their dreams.
"From this our beautful island, from our schoolrooms and corrifors which are dense with life and dreams, all we wish is to be
educated well," said Giorgia, a high school freshman in Palermo. "We insist on having teachers who are witnesses to the truth,
committed to the transmission of knowledge and the daily relationship that should exist between teacher and students."
"We have much to receive and we have already received much from the Church and our priests. But we also have a lot to give
if anyone wishes to accept us, to listen to us, to make us even more enamored of Jesus Christ".
The audience was silent, listening and agreeing - she was speaking for them.
Then it was the turn of David Roccaro, a law student who said he believed in formation and study as 'an opportunity for rescue and renewal'.
"We do not wish to give up on the dream of a better Sicily, made fertile by the blood of so many martyrs of justice and faith
like Falcone, Borsellini, don Pino Puglisi and Rosario Livatino," he named them to a burst of sustained applause.
"We are living an exceptional historical time in Sicily," he went on. "Never before has criminality been so struck against and placed
in difficulty. Therefore, it is time to reinforce our commitment in defense of Christian and human values, which should also guide us
in our studies, our education, our work - which we do not now have".
Before the Pope came to join the young people, he had spoken to some 2,300 priests, male and female religious, deacons and
seminarians, whose enthusiasm was overwhelming.
They left the Cathedral thankful for the Holy Father's call to prayer and to spiritual nourishment, said with the severity of a good father.
"He told us that above all, we must live in prayer, from which everything will follow," said Don Angelo Milone, rector of the seminary
in Acireale. "and that as priests, we must share the sufferings and joys of our people."
Pope learns of boy's death in
a house fire as he leaves Palermo
Translated from
PALERMO, Oct. 4 - The Holy Father eexpressed his condolence over the death of 6-year-old Ivan Viviani who died in a house fire
on the day of the Pope's visit, the archbishop's press office said.
He also sent a message of spiritual closeness to the boy's family who are hospitalized for injuries, and asked Archbishop Paolo
Romeo to visit them after he saw off the Pope for Rome on Sunday evening.
Mons. Romeo has asked the diocesan Caritas to attend to the immediate needs of the stricken family. They are poor and now homeless.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 07/10/2010 06:32]