March 10, 2012. (Romereports.com) When a bishop is elevated to cardinal, he receives the traditional hat and ring. But symbolically, the Pope also entrusts each
new cardinal with a local Roman parish they must oversee.
Cardinal Fernando Filoni already lives in Rome. Therefore, he was the first among the new cardinalsto take possession so to speak of his new Roman parish. It's the Nostra Signora di Coromoto in San Giovanni di Dio.
During the ceremony, hundreds of people, including the church's pastor, were already waiting outside to welcome the new cardinal.
Once inside, Filoni prayed a few minutes in silence before the Tabernacle. Then he got ready to celebrate Mass in his new church.
At the very beginning, the master of ceremonies publicly read the papal bull where the Pope entrusts the parish to the archbishop. The official announcement was welcomed with a loud applause.
During his Homily, Filoni talked about his previous diplomatic assignments in Hong Kong, and also in Tehran during the war between Iran and Iraq. He was also in Baghdad just months before Saddam Hussein lost power. He also talked about his role as the prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.
Card. Fernando Filoni
Prefect, Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
“Now you know me, so there is no need to ask, who is he? Where does he come from, what does he do? We know nothing about him. This way we explain who we are, to establish a relationship. We can go from being strangers to friends who can talk.”
It was a very solemn ceremony, but above all it was a chance for the Cardinal to meet his new parishioners.
As a gift, the community gave Filoni an image of the Virgin of the parish, Our Lady of Coromoto. Afterward, he officially took on his new role by signing all the necessary documents.
Card. Fernando Filoni
Prefect, Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
“It's a beautiful day because I get to do what I did 40 years ago when I lived in a parish and was assistant pastor. Once again I feel the affection of the people, and this wealth of humanity around me, that makes me feel so good. I see it as a gift to have these parishioners praying for me.”
That day, the Cardinal specifically asked his new community to pray for missionaries, which makes sense, since he serves as the prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.
