Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - “A long period of ministry, enriched by praiseworthy activity”: this was how Pope Benedict XVI described the 50 years of priesthood of Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino who celebrated his priestly jubilee on 20 June with family and friends in St Peter's Basilica. At the altar of the Cathedra the Cardinal was surrounded by many cardinal, archbishops and bishops of the Roman Curia and from various different countries linked to Cardinal Martino by bonds of friendship and esteem.
For the occasion Pope Benedict XVI addressed a special message to the Cardinal in which he mentioned “ever more important duties”, undertaken by the Cardinal in the Secretariat of State at the Nunciatures and in the Roman Curia, “to sustain the values and the reasons of the Church in every wider fields”. Pope Benedict XVI mentioned the “activity to promote relations and harmony among nations delle”, achieved by the then Archbishop Martino at the United Nations in 16 years as the Holy See's representative. The Pontiff also mentioned the Cardinal's ability and industriousness as head of the Pontifical Councils for Justice and Peace and for the Pastoral care for Migrant and Itinerant Peoples. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 21/6/2007; Righe 16; Parole 231)
