VATICAN CITY, 10 SEP 2008 (VIS) - Benedict XVI spoke of the life of Cardinal Antonio Innocenti in a homily he pronounced this morning in the Vatican Basilica, at the end of a Eucharistic celebration for the soul of that prelate, who died on 6 September at the age of 93.
The Mass began at 9 a.m., concelebrated by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals, and other member of the college.
In his homily, the Pope sketched a brief biography of the late cardinal, who was a native of the Italian diocese of Fiesole. He was ordained priest in 1938, after which he taught at the diocesan seminary, "helping the bishop on his pastoral visits during World War II. In that dramatic period he stood out for his selflessness and generosity in helping people and saving those destined for deportation. For this he was arrested and condemned to be shot, but the order was reversed as he stood before of the firing squad".
The Holy Father then recalled how Cardinal Innocenti entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See, being "appointed as pontifical representative to Paraguay and receiving episcopal ordination in 1968. He was later recalled to Rome to assume the role of secretary of the Congregation for the Sacraments and Divine Worship. Later, in 1980, he was sent as apostolic nuncio to Spain where he twice welcomed my venerated predecessor John Paul II on pastoral visits". John Paul II made him a cardinal in 1985.
This Italian cardinal, the Pope went on, "continued to provide his valuable services to the Supreme Pontiff, as prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, president of the Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Patrimony of the Church and of the Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei".
Referring to Cardinal Innocenti's episcopal motto, "Lucem spero fide", Benedict XVI concluded his homily by expressing the hope that "faith and hope may give way to the greatest of all truths, the charity which will never end".
HML/FUNERAL MASS/INNOCENTI VIS 20080910 (340)
The Mass began at 9 a.m., concelebrated by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals, and other member of the college.
In his homily, the Pope sketched a brief biography of the late cardinal, who was a native of the Italian diocese of Fiesole. He was ordained priest in 1938, after which he taught at the diocesan seminary, "helping the bishop on his pastoral visits during World War II. In that dramatic period he stood out for his selflessness and generosity in helping people and saving those destined for deportation. For this he was arrested and condemned to be shot, but the order was reversed as he stood before of the firing squad".
The Holy Father then recalled how Cardinal Innocenti entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See, being "appointed as pontifical representative to Paraguay and receiving episcopal ordination in 1968. He was later recalled to Rome to assume the role of secretary of the Congregation for the Sacraments and Divine Worship. Later, in 1980, he was sent as apostolic nuncio to Spain where he twice welcomed my venerated predecessor John Paul II on pastoral visits". John Paul II made him a cardinal in 1985.
This Italian cardinal, the Pope went on, "continued to provide his valuable services to the Supreme Pontiff, as prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, president of the Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Patrimony of the Church and of the Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei".
Referring to Cardinal Innocenti's episcopal motto, "Lucem spero fide", Benedict XVI concluded his homily by expressing the hope that "faith and hope may give way to the greatest of all truths, the charity which will never end".
HML/FUNERAL MASS/INNOCENTI VIS 20080910 (340)
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