06/15/2024
Of
Red.
A friar who “made the impossible possible”. This was Father Guglielmo Gattiani, declared venerable by Pope Francis a few weeks ago. The Capuchin friar, in Cesena for many years, was considered a saint during his lifetime. His long existence – he was born in 1914 and died in Faenza on 15 December 1999 – was retraced in the docu-film premiered last night at the Victor cinema theater in San Vittore, which was packed for the occasion.
From the presentation of director Roberto Vecchi it turned out that Telepace was a creation of Father Guglielmo who thought of a tool to bring the message of Jesus throughout the world. The director himself also pointed out that he had discovered that many knew a part of the saintly friar’s life, but “no one knew it in full. Only the doctor Anna Maria Cecchi (defined in the film as the spiritual daughter of Father Guglielmo, ed.) knew it all.”
The actor who played Father Guglielmo, Daniele Doninelli, said that not only was he involved, but he felt overwhelmed by the role.
Numerous testimonies were collected, including that of the vice-postulator, Father Giuseppe De Carlo, and that of the current guardian of the convent of Cesena, Father Filippo Gridelli, a convent in which Father Guglielmo was the master of novices from 1946 to 1964. Then for years numerous people who relied on him, even when he was transferred to Faenza in 1980.
The music, very carefully crafted, is the work of Davide Caprelli from Cesena. The production of the film is by Simone Ortolani. The film takes advantage of the patronage of the archdiocese of Bologna and the dioceses of Cesena, Faenza and Parma. The bishop of Cesena-Sarsina also participated in last night’s screening, Monsignor Douglas Regattieri, who brought a greeting and personal thanks for the feat accomplished. Among the numerous notable presences in the audience, there was also that of Dr. Anna Maria Cecchi.
Applause for everyone at the end of the screening. A good omen for the four evenings scheduled from Monday 17 June to Thursday 20. The first three are already sold out.
