Ho fatto cristiano il Papa - Tour of presentations
Published : 11/04/2021 16:34:11
Categories : News
A tour of presentations in various Italian cities for the book Ho fatto cristiano il Papa (I made the Pope a Christian) by Ferruccio Pallavera, published by Libreria editrice vaticana. The text, which is a biography of Don Enrico Pozzoli, the Salesian missionary who baptised Jorge Mario Bergoglio, will be presented over the next few days in various locations throughout Italy with numerous important personalities.
Pope Francis has repeatedly expressed his deep esteem for Fr Pozzoli, originally from Lodi, describing him on several occasions as "a great apostle" and "an apostle of the confessional", underlining how his spirituality has been shaped by the words and example of the Salesian from Lodi. Having learned in recent months that a book on Father Pozzoli was being written, Pope Francis summoned the author, Ferruccio Pallavera, himself, and offered him his own unpublished testimony on the human and spiritual figure of the Salesian from Lodi, who worked for 58 years in Argentina, where he was a point of reference for thousands of Italian migrants who came to Argentina in search of a better future: Among them were the Bergoglio couple, who found in Don Pozzoli a valid human and Christian support, and who became the reference educator for the young Jorge Mario.
On Wednesday 10th November in Asti, the original diocese of Bergoglio's parents, the book Ho fatto cristiano il Papa (I made the Pope a Christian) will be presented at 6pm in the Bishop's Seminary in the presence of Mgr Marco Prastaro, Bishop of Asti, Sr Isa Maiolo, director of the Casa Madre Mazzarello, Guido Sodano, president of the Pope Francis Committee, and Lorenzo Fazzini, head of publishing at Libreria Editrice Vaticana.
On Friday 12 November in Rome, at the Pontifical Urbanian University, there will be a prestigious parterre for the presentation in the capital (6.30 pm, John Paul II Auditorium). After greetings from the Rector of the Urbaniana, Leonardo Sileo, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, the Honourable Lorenzo Guerini, Minister of Defence and former Mayor of Lodi, and Don Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major of the Salesians, will take the floor. Monica Mondo, Tv2000 journalist, will be moderating.
On Sunday 14 November, Don Pozzoli will be remembered in Senna Lodigiana, his birthplace: at 3pm the main square of the town will be dedicated to him in the presence of Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for Oriental Churches, also Argentinean like Pope Francis, who was also educated as a young man by Don Pozzoli in Buenos Aires.
On Wednesday 17 November in Lodi (8.45 pm, Salone della Quadreria in Vescovado), after greetings from the mayor Sara Casanova, the figure of Don Pozzoli will be described by Mgr Maurizio Malvestiti, Bishop of Lodi, and Andrea Monda, editor of the Osservatore Romano; moderated by Lorenzo Rinaldi, editor of Il Cittadino. The author of the book, Ferruccio Pallavera, for many years editor of the Cittadino and an expert in local history, will speak at all the events. He is able to give the reader a vivid picture of the historical atmosphere and the biographical profile of Don Pozzoli.
All the meetings are free of charge, Green pass required. For information ufficiostampa.lev@spc.va.