Pope's Speech to Members of the Council of the Alcide de Gasperi Foundation

(June 20, 2009) Spirituality and politics were in fact two dimensions that cohabited in the person of Alcide de Gasperi, the former Premier of Italy, that characterized his social and spiritual outlook, said Pope Benedict XVI. He was addressing the members of the Foundation of Alcide de Gasperi in Rome on Saturday, 20^th of June. He further added that Trained in the school of the Gospel, De Gasperi was able to translate into real action the devout faith he professed. The Pope appreciated his prudent foresight that led him to his exit from fascism and boldly traced the path towards the future where he defended the freedom and promoted the recovery economic opening to the cooperation of all people of good will. If Spirituality and politics are to be integrated fully no individual must confine himself to record the political results he achieved, but also take account of his religious sensitivity and faith to place his inspired thought and action. The Holy Father recalled his strong political commitments and yet always kept his prayer as a relationship with God, starting each day when possible by participating in Holy Mass. The Pope then remembered Alcide de Gasperi as a person who honoured the Church and the nation of Italy with his undeniable loyalty to the human and Christian values, as well as the clear moral conscience that the guided in the choices of his policy. His political action has made his service to the Church, to Italy and to Europe, and to the Government a sign of his Christian witness, which is an encouragement and inspiration especially for those who are inspired by the Gospel, concluded the Pope.