«It was a very cordial conversation and the Pope, even though tired, spent two and a half hours with us showing great availability»: the audience that the Holy Father granted to the Sicilian bishops on the occasion of the ad limina visit has already begun in the fondest memories of Monsignor Giuseppe La Placa. The bishop had the opportunity to briefly present the Diocese of Ragusa and recall how it is the youngest in Italy, preparing to celebrate its 75 years of foundation and 70 of autonomy. Monsignor La Placa, greeting the Pope, also renewed his invitation to be present in Ragusa next year, on the occasion of the Jubilee for the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the Diocese. «The Pope – said the bishop – responded with a smile and with “we’ll see, we’ll see”. We know that his agenda must take into account his health conditions and we know well that it will not be possible to see him in Ragusa next year but I am sure that his prayers and his attention will always accompany us.”
During the audience, the bishop also asked the Pope a specific question relating to those people and couples who find themselves, according to canon law, in a condition of irregularity. Monsignor La Placa, in particular, asked if, in certain cases, it was possible to admit those in these conditions as godmothers and godfathers. «The Pope – the bishop summarized at the end of the audience – did not respond directly but gave a nod of assent with his hand and, then, during his speech he spoke about welcoming those who live in situations of suffering, to accompany without condemning, to always make the right discernment and to always keep in mind the Mercy of God”.
The ad limina visit of the Sicilian bishops to the Holy Father is drawing to a close. In recent days the Sicilian bishops have had the opportunity to celebrate and pray together on the tombs of the apostles and have had meetings with the heads of the Dicasteries of the Roman Curia. The transition to the Secretariat of State also gives a sense of the relationship with the institutions: speakers, youth ministry, Catholic schools and healthcare are on the discussion table. Yesterday, Wednesday 1 May, the bishops went on a pilgrimage to the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore and, in the afternoon, celebrated Vespers in the church of Santa Maria Odigitria, known as the Sicilian church.
Tags: Diocese of Ragusa, La Placa, ad limina visit, Sicilian bishops
Author
Alessandro Bongiorno Journalist, editor of the Gazzetta del Sud and co-director of Insieme. Former president of the Ragusa Fuci group, he has a degree in political science.
