(28 Apr 10 – RV) As the Year for Priests draws towards its conclusion
and ahead of his upcoming pilgrimage to venerate the Shroud of Turin, Pope Benedict
XVI held up the example of two priests native of the Northern Italian city, who through
their dedication and witness to Charity have been written on the rolls of the Saints.
“Saint Leonard
Murialdo, the founder of the Congregation of Saint Joseph, devoted his life to the
education and pastoral care of disadvantaged young people. He saw his priestly vocation
as a gracious gift of God’s love, to be received with gratitude, joy and love. Imbued
with a powerful sense of the Lord’s mercy, he encouraged his confreres to unite contemplation
and apostolic zeal, and to confirm their preaching by the example of their lives”. The
second Saint, who lived through the turbulent years of the Napoleonic wars, was Saint
Joseph Cottolengo, whom Pope Benedict described as an “outstanding apostle of charity”.
“Early in his priesthood, after a dramatic encounter with human suffering, he
founded the “Little Home of Divine Providence”, involving scores of people – priests,
religious and laity alike – in a great charitable outreach which continues today”. Indeed,
this Sunday May 2nd, Pope Benedict XVI will personally visit this home
on the outskirts of this industrial city. It will be his last appointment of the
day, after having prayed before the Shroud,. And celebrated mass with the faithful
of the diocese. In his greeting to pilgrims and visitors this Wednesday, Pope Benedict
made particular mention of visiting delegations, in Rome for a series of meetings: “I
offer a most cordial welcome to the ecumenical delegations from the Lutheran Church
of Norway and from the Church of England. My warm greeting also goes to the group
of Jewish leaders visiting the Vatican with the Pave the Way Foundation”.