PINSK, 25 October (BelTA) - Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, the Prefect of the Vatican's Dicastery for the Eastern Churches who is serving as Pope Leo XIV's special envoy for the Pinsk diocese anniversary, has delivered a greeting to Belarusian believers, BelTA has learned.
The main celebrations for the 100th anniversary of the Pinsk diocese are taking place in two Belarusian cities on 24-26 October. A Holy Mass was held at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Pinsk. Participants included Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches in the Vatican and special envoy of Pope Leo to the anniversary of the Pinsk diocese; Apostolic Nuncio to Belarus (Vatican Ambassador) Ignazio Ceffalia; Metropolitan of Minsk and Mogilev Archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church and Chairman of the Conference of Catholic Bishops in Belarus Iosif Stanevsky; and other bishops.
Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti led the liturgy. He addressed the congregation with a greeting. “The Pope gave me a special gift by sending me as his envoy to this feast, to this celebration. Because here [in Belarus] I feel at home. When I look into your eyes, when I listen to what you say (I understand Russian, and a little Belarusian), I feel great joy in my heart. It is wonderful to celebrate these festivities, to see the smiles on your faces,” he said.
The Pontiff's special envoy emphasized that humanity is going through difficult times. “Wars, endless difficulties, violence in the world seem to disrupt God's plan for the world He created. We often ask the question: what is happening? Where is wisdom, reason, mercy, love? Where has it all gone? Because we are born of God, whose name is love. Every time we see violence, any evil, we feel inside as if struck by an electric shock,” Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti stressed.
He called for peace and unity, for love and goodness. “You are a quiet, calm people. In this lies your strength. You are modest and hard-working. People of nations beyond Belarus love you for who you are because you are honest, sincere, and open,” noted the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches in the Vatican.
The celebrations for the centenary of the Pinsk diocese will continue in Brest on 26 October. Their center will be the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Claudio Gugerotti will lead a Holy Mass and hold a meeting with the youth there.
Claudio Gugerotti served as Apostolic Nuncio to Belarus from 2011 to 2015. The Dicastery for Eastern Churches, previously known as the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, traces its roots back to 1573. It is one of the sixteen Dicasteries of the Roman Curia responsible for matters relating to the Eastern Catholic Churches that are in communion with the Pope.
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