Bishop of Carpi: We wait for Pope with "hope in our hearts"

(Vatican Radio) “We wait for the Pope with hope in our hearts, and the certainty of faith,” said Bishop Francesco Cavina, of the Diocese of Carpi.

Bishop Cavina was scheduled to welcome Pope Benedict XVI on Tuesday, during his visit to Emilia Romagna. His diocese was the hardest hit by two earthquakes on May 20^th and 29^th, which killed 24 people, and left thousands homeless. Forty-seven of the churches in the diocese were extensively damaged, and one priest was killed.

Bishop Cavina told Vatican radio all the clergy of the diocese were heroes during the disaster.

“They were all at their posts, and many of them organized first aid for their people,” he said. “Relief efforts were even organized in athletic fields and those few structures which were left standing…this is where the tent cities began to rise up, around the parish, or in parish own properties. This shows the love, esteem, and gratitude of the people – believers and unbelievers – towards their priests.”

The Holy Father was scheduled to visit Rovereto di Novi, the parish where Father Ivo Martini was killed by a falling beam in his church.

“This has been a source of anguish,” said Bishop Cavina. “I freely admit that I feel the fatigue of the moment, but I am comforted by the affection of the many priests and faithful I have met during this journey. Together we will succeed.”