BREST, 26 October (BelTA) - Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches in the Vatican and special envoy of Pope Leo XIV for the 100th anniversary of the Pinsk Diocese, met with young people in Brest on 26 October, BelTA has learned.
The festivities to celebrate the anniversary of the Pinsk Diocese are scheduled to span several days. The previous day, events were held at the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Pinsk. During the Holy Mass, Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti led the liturgy and addressed the Belarusian people with a welcoming speech.
The celebrations in Brest took place at the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. At first the Pope's special envoy held a meeting with young people. They came not only from the Pinsk Diocese spanning Brest Oblast and Gomel Oblast but also from other regions of Belarus. The Pope’s envoy arrived in Brest to a warm welcome was war greeted with bread and salt. He was also given a souvenir which will serve as a memento of the Pinsk Diocese's anniversary.
At the conclusion of the meeting with the faithful, Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti stated that he considers his visit to Belarus a success.
The festivities to celebrate the anniversary of the Pinsk Diocese are scheduled to span several days. The previous day, events were held at the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Pinsk. During the Holy Mass, Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti led the liturgy and addressed the Belarusian people with a welcoming speech.
The celebrations in Brest took place at the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. At first the Pope's special envoy held a meeting with young people. They came not only from the Pinsk Diocese spanning Brest Oblast and Gomel Oblast but also from other regions of Belarus. The Pope’s envoy arrived in Brest to a warm welcome was war greeted with bread and salt. He was also given a souvenir which will serve as a memento of the Pinsk Diocese's anniversary.
He addressed the believers in Russian. Claudio Gugerotti served as the Apostolic Nuncio to Belarus from 2011 to 2015. He observed that Belarusians may appear serious and calm on the outside, but they know how to rejoice sincerely. The special envoy conveyed to Belarusian Catholics the words: “The Pope loves you”.
In his speech, he touched upon topics important to every person: support, love, and faith. “The future of this world is love,” the Cardinal said. He asked the parishioners and pilgrims thought-provoking questions.
“We would like to ask you to convey our prayers to the Pope. We are eagerly awaiting him. Also, please tell him that God lives in Belarus," one of the young women emphasized. Her words were met with applause from the faithful.
"I have been attending church since childhood; my parents taught me to do it. My entire family is religious, with members belonging to different denominations. Faith is my conversation, my personal encounter with God. I am very happy for the opportunity to meet with the Pope's special envoy. We are hosting the Cardinal who came from the Vatican which is the main place for Catholics. It is a very interesting experience. For some, this may lead to a reassessment of values," Anna Kulikova from Brest said.
At the conclusion of the meeting with the faithful, Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti stated that he considers his visit to Belarus a success.
Photos by Violetta Yazhakova/BelTA
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