April 25, 2024 at 4:39 pm
The lawyer Giovanni Tarquini, candidate for mayor of the Municipality of Reggio Emilia of the Civic List supported by the centre-right parties, participated this morning, Thursday, in Pope Francis’ meeting with Catholic Action. With him a large delegation of people from Reggio Emilia who, among others, met Marcello Bedeschi, president of the “Gioventù Chiesa e Speranza” Foundation, creator and organizer of World Youth Day until 2019, and Bishop Claudio Giuliodori, general ecclesiastical assistant of the ‘Italian Catholic Action.
Tarquini himself announced this through his press office, also adding that “our Monsignor Tiziano Ghirelli, who has held the important role of canon of St. Peter’s Basilica since 2022, could not be missing from the meeting”. “Monsignor Ghirelli spoke at length with the Reggio delegation – we read again in the note – encouraging the lawyer’s commitment. Tarquini “for the renewal of our city in the spirit of the values of friendship, solidarity and mutual respect”.
A kind of endorsement – at least according to what Tarquini’s staff reports – by one of the leading figures of the Vatican who cannot help but arouse uproar in the city where only a couple of months ago, precisely in view of the electoral campaign, Bishop Morandi with his the so-called ‘non-expedit’ had intended to keep Church and politics well separated, even prohibiting catechists from running for office and parishes from hosting party meetings. And here we are not talking about a catechist, but about the canon of St. Peter’s Basilica who is appointed directly by the Pope and works closely with him to welcome pilgrims and visitors who come to pray at St. Peter’s tomb.
Born in Quattro Castella 70 years ago, Monsignor Ghirelli has held this position since December 2021. Previously, since 1989 he had been secretary to Bishop Gibertini and on his indication he had begun to deal with the artistic heritage of the Reggio Emilia curia: from 2006 to 2019 he was director of the Diocesan Museum, of which he also oversaw the new layout.
Returning to Tarquini’s day in St. Peter’s, the note released today continues by comparing the reading proposed today to the faithful in St. Peter’s Square, taken from the Acts of the Apostles, to the controversy that only a few hours ago affected Tarquini regarding April 25th.
“And while Pope Francis invited the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square to reflect on the meaning and value of the embrace – every war and every conflict arises from a failure to embrace. We promote the culture of embracing to overcome resentment and mistrust, to renew efforts at communion and responsibility by building bonds for a future of peace – there is still someone who continues to foment resentment that must be overcome and left to historically past periods” , Tarquini states.
