COMMEMORATIVE MASS FOR
CARDINALS & BISHOPS
DECEASED IN THE PAST YEAR
Translated from
the 11/6/09 issue of
At 11:40 on Thusrday morning, Pope Benedict XVI presided at a Mass celebrated at the Altar of Peter's Chair in the Vatican Basilica to commemorate the cardinals and bishops who have died in the past year.
"Faithful servants, whom the master, returning from a wedding, found wakeful and vigilant."
With these words taken from the Gospel of Luke, Benedict XVI remembered the deceased prelates during the concelebrated Mass of homage.
Seven cardinals died between Dec. 12, 2008, and July 17, 2009 - Avery Dulles, Pio Laghi, Stéphanos ii Ghattas, Stephen Kim Sou-Hwan, Paul Joseph Pham Ðình Tung, Umberto Betti and Jean Margéot. One hundred archbishops and bishops died from October 22, 2008 to October 26, 2009.
Prayers were also offered for the intentions of the Pope and for the pastors of the Church.
Concelebrating with the Pope at the Altar of Peter's Chair were 34 cvardinals, including Cardinals Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of State, and Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals. Also present were priests and prelates from the Roman Curia.
Sitting with the diplomatic corps to the Holy See were Archbishops Dominique Mamberti and Fernando Filoni, deputy Secretaries of State for external relations and for internal affairs, respectively; along with Monsignors Ettore Balestrero, undersecretary to Mamberti; Fptunatus Nwachukwu, chief of protocol at State; and Peter Brian Wells, senior counselor and undersecretary to Filoni.
The Pope processed into the Basilica with Archbishop James Harvey, Prefect of the Pontifical Household; Mons. Félix del Blanco Prieto, Almoner; Mons. Paolo De Nicolò, regent to Mons Harvey; and teh Pope's two private secretaries, Monsignors Georg Gänswein and Alfred Xuereb.
The liturgical music was provided by the choir of the Cappella Giulia.
Will post homily when translated.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 05/11/2009 22:20]