From one of the many stories preparatory to the Pope's visit to Cardinal Bertone's hometown today, did we know before this that he is also a good pianist?
The cardinal played host to the Pope today in his hometown and in his family home.
Cardinal Bertone in the eyes
of his townmates
Adapted and translated from
While awaiting the Pope's visit, the people of Romano Canavese are also telling stories about their most illustrious citizen, Cardinal Tarcisio Beertone, starting with his brother Valeriano.
"We have always been a very united family, and since Papa and Mamma died, Tarcisio has become our reference point," says the cardinal's younger brother with great emotion.
On Sunday, the family - about 40 altogether, including nephews, nieces and grandchildren - will have the privilege of welcoming the Pope to their home after the Sunday Angelus.
Valeriano says that June 29 was always a big family celebration "because "Papa's name was Pietro, mamma was Pierina, and our oldest brother, Paolo. Papa, who was an excllent organist, although a self-taught one, would play, the cantors would come, and we had a really good time."
"It will not be the first time that we have the opportunity to meet a Pope. When my brother was named a cardinal, John Paul II received us all at Castel Gandolfo. But of course, there's profound emotion for this new opportunity [with a different Pope] even if there is the regret that Papa is no longer here.
"he was very religious. he would have deeply felt the visit of the Holy Father - and that goes for Mamma adn our brothers who have gone. And Paolo, our eldest will not be here, either, because he has been in the hospital for three months now."
Pride for the achievement of one of their own is evident from those who went to school with the cardinal.
"There is pride and joy particularly because he is one of us - a great Salesian," says Don Conrado Bettiga of the Comunita Maria Ausiliatrice in Valdooco, and Don Aldo Bertolino, a Salesian from Cunea, who both shared years of study with Bertone.
"We were Salesians attending the Faculty of Canon Law". says Don Bettiga. "Even then his intelligence was evident, with a great intuitive ability, but he also had this great affability and accessibility, so everyone found him 'simpatico'. And this was typical for Salesians, since we are used to spending most of our time with young people. He was always a great sports lover, which is also typical of Salesians."
Don Bertolino points out Bertone's passion for music.
"He is a very gifted musician. He plays the piano very well - possibly he inherited this gift from his father who was an excellent organist," says the Salesian who was with him for two years of high school, 3 years of theology, and a few months of their novitiate in 1950.
Almost everyone asked who knew Bertone when he was growing up described him as "bright, intelligent, sensible, a great person even then".
"As a young boy, my father says he already had great charisma and diplomacy," says Teresina Donato, who, with sister Paola, owns the pastry show La Rosa Antica, which will provide the desserts to be served to the Pope on Sunday - they won't say what.)
"My father was at school in Valdocco with him, and he says that he was very good at straightening out petty troubles and diffficulties, so other boys often turned to him to help get them out of trouble. For instance, they would ask him to go to the rector and speak up for them because they knew that with his diplomatic ways, he would make their case best. An excellent mind, charisma and diplomacy - those who knew him as a boy say those were already evident in him. He is an exquisite person," Teresina concludes.
"The cardinal is a most affable person," says Mayor Oscarino Ferrero, whose father and an aunt wnet to school with Bertone. "Whenever he comes home, which is as often as his schedule permits, I often see him walking around town. He is loved by the townspeople, many of whom call him Don Tarcisio or simply Tarcisio, and he generally stops to exchange small talk in the Piemontese dialect."
The people of Romano are very proud of their townsmate and particularly thankful for asking the Holy Fahter to visit the town - the first time a Pope has ever visited this little town of 3,000.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 19/07/2009 22:29]