SIENA. Yesterday morning, in the splendid setting of the Portico dei Comuni, in the home sanctuary of Santa Caterina in Fontebranda, in Siena, the mayor Gianguido D’Alberto, representing the City of Teramo and all the Italian Municipalities, offered the oil for the votive lamp of Saint Catherine, co-patron saint of Italy and Europe. The oil was blessed by the bishop of Teramo-Atri last April 29th Lorenzo Leuzzi in the cathedral of San Berardo. The ceremony represented the final event of the Caterina celebrations, which this year saw a sort of twinning of Siena with the city and diocese of Teramo thanks to the good offices of the prefect of Teramo Fabrizio SteloSienese by birth.
«For the city of Teramo, being here today, to offer the oil for the votive lamp of Saint Catherine, co-patron saint of Italy and Europe, represents a moment of extraordinary pride», said Mayor D’Alberto in his speech, «also because it is the first time, after many years, that this happens for a Church and a Municipality outside the archdiocese of Siena. This is a gesture with a profound meaning, which intensely symbolizes the ties that unite the Italian Municipalities, the foundations of our country.” In his speech D’Alberto recalled Saint Catherine’s commitment to peace, her activity in support of the sick, of the least fortunate, her calls for politics understood as a pure search for the common good, «the values that through her letters to popes, cardinals and sovereigns from all over Europe, they call us to work together for a different world, where no one is left behind, where the values of solidarity, of peace understood not only as the absence of war, of respect for human dignity, are at the basis of all our actions, individual and collective. In her message, so contemporary, the teachings of Saint Catherine are many and affect us closely, especially us, administrators of public affairs”, continued the mayor, “Saint Catherine, with her writings and her tireless activity, calls to untouchable value of the common good and the pursuit of justice as a tool to ensure it. Guaranteeing the common good means fighting inequalities, it means fighting poverty, it means governing public affairs by always putting the person at the centre, just as Saint Catherine underlined throughout her life.” A commitment which, the mayor underlined, must also and above all concern the peace process. «Today is the time to return to building a present and a future of peace, to overcome the divisions within our communities, between our territories, within the country and between the countries of the world», concluded D’Alberto, «it is time to rediscover peace as an individual dimension that opens up to a collective dimension, in relation to the community and between communities, as Saint Catherine taught us».
A large delegation from Teramo participated in the three days of Caterina celebrations, which began on Friday, led not only by the mayor but also by bishop Lorenzo Leuzzi. The Teramo choir Nisea performed on Friday in the majestic cathedral of Siena, directed by the teacher Claudia Morelli. (red.te)
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