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Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Father wrote a Letter to Cardinal Camillo Ruini, his Vicar General for the Diocese of Rome, which was read during the Mass presided by Cardinal Ruini on the evening of Saturday, June 21, in the Basilica of Saint John Lateran, on the occasion of his 25th anniversary of Episcopal Ordination and the jubilee celebrations of the priests who carry out pastoral ministries in the diocese.
“Upon this delightful occasion,” the Pope writes, “I wish to unite myself in spirit to you, my dear and venerable brother, in giving thanks to God, recalling the stages of your fruitful Episcopal ministry.” His first three years were spent in his home Diocese of Reggio Emilia-Guastalla, as Auxiliary Bishop, where he was in charge of overseeing the formation and promotion of the laity and the celebration of the Diocesan Synod, as well as serving as Vice President of the Committee in charge of the National Convention of the Italian Church, in Loreto. Then, in June 1986, he was appointed Secretary General of the Italian Bishops’ Conference. “From then” – Benedict XVI writes – “until March 7 of last year you were at the constant service of the Italian Bishops, especially beginning in 1991, when you became President of the CEI.”
“The reason that most moves me to express my gratitude to you, Lord Cardinal, however, is for your commitment to serving the Church of Rome,” the Holy Father continued, recalling that on January 17, 1991, Servant of God John Paul II asked that he succeed Cardinal Ugo Poletti. “The entire Church of Rome has been a witness to your great capacity of hard work, your simple and forthright faith, your intelligent pastoral creativity, your faithfulness to the living identity of the Church through unity with the Pope even in the midst of difficulties, your confident and smiling optimism.”
Among the significant events of these years, the Pope mentioned the conclusion of the Diocesan Synod in 1993 and the drafting of the Book of the Synod; the “Dialoghi in Cattedrale” and the annual ecclesial conventions; the city missions in preparation for the Great Jubilee of 2000. As Bishop, he has seen the ordination of 484 diocesan priests, the creation of 57 new parishes, 2 sites of worship and the church at the “Collegio dei Santi Martiri Coreani” (College of the Holy Martyrs of Korea), and has presented many Catholic communities from all over the world with a church where they can hold their celebrations. Thanks to his pastoral care for the Diocese of Rome over the course of these years, the Diocese “has grown in communion and in awareness of the urgency of the mission.”
The Holy Father expressed his particular gratitude for having supported his invitation “to a serious commitment to education and for having so often gathered so many faithful in Saint Peter’s Square to listen, support, and encourage the ministry of the Roman Pontiff.”
The Letter concludes with these words: “In all these circumstances you have shown exemplary faithfulness to your episcopal motto 'Veritas liberabit nos'. In name of this Truth, which is Christ Himself, you continually dedicated your energies for the sake of the People of God who are in Rome. And for so many other services to the Church and society during these 25 years of Episcopate, I must thank you, dear brother. May the Lord, who knows the heart of mankind, especially the joys and sufferings of Pastors, repay you as only He knows how and continue to bless you with His gifts.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 23/6/2008)
