The farewell mass as bishop of Treviso in 2019 by Monsignor Gianfranco Agostino Gardin
The diocese of Treviso is mourning the death of the bishop emeritus, Gianfranco Agostino Gardin, which occurred this afternoon in the House of the Clergy, where he lived in recent years and where he spent the time of his illness. The pastor who was a conventual friar minor led this particular Church in the heart of Veneto from 2010 to 2019.
Born in San Polo di Piave (Treviso) on 15 March 1944, he met the minor conventual friars in the Frari parish in Venice, asking to enter the convent at 14 years old. After his religious profession (temporary in 1961 and perpetual in 1965) and presbyteral ordination (1970) he continued his studies, graduating in moral theology at the Pontifical Lateran University-Alphonsian Academy. He dedicated several years of his life as a trainer and teacher of theology at the St. Anthony Doctor Theological Institute. In 1978 he began collaborating with the Messenger of Saint Anthony, giving birth to the magazine in 1980 Believe Oggi, in dialogue with Monsignor Luigi Sartori, theologian of the diocese of Padua, and Father Giacomo Panteghini, director of the Messenger of Saint Anthony: an instrument of theological orientation and updating, which immediately established itself in the field of theological school for its informative, monographic and systematic approach; he was director of it until 1988, the year of his election as Provincial Minister of the Padua Province of S. Antonio.
General Minister of the Friars Minor Conventual from 1995 to 2001
Until 1995 he held this position, first of all urging and promoting the path of fraternal life in the communities and giving impetus to missionary activity (particularly in Ghana and Chile). The last years of his provincialate saw his commitment to organizing and leading the celebrations for the VIII Centenary of the birth of Saint Anthony (1995). In this context, he wanted weight to be given above all to the moments of pilgrimage to the tomb of the Saint and to the charitable initiatives carried out in his name. On 3 June 1995 he was elected Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual. He lived his role above all in frequent visits to the various Provinces, in particular attention to the conventual settlements present in the countries of Eastern Europe which were recovering after the fall of the Berlin Wall and to all the missionary realities, with the start of the Province of Zambia. During his mandate he oversaw collaboration on the initiatives of the Franciscan Movement, cooperating with other Franciscan families and with the Secular Franciscan Order. Furthermore, he participated in important moments in the life of the Church, in particular the ecclesial conference of Palermo (1995) and the Synod of Bishops for Europe (1999), as representative of the Union of Superiors General (of which he became president in November 2000). After concluding his service as Minister General in February 2001, he returned to his religious province in the convent of Treviso, where he continued to collaborate with various ecclesial realities, especially in ongoing formation. In 2005 he was elected general director of the Messaggero di Sant’Antonio, which he conducted for only a year, as the On 10 July 2006 he was appointed titular archbishop of Cissa and secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life by Pope Benedict XVI. Elected Bishop of the diocese of Treviso, for ten years he carried out his role as pastor of that local Church (18 December 2009 – 6 July 2019). In recent years, he lives first at the Sant’Antonio Doctor convent (2020-2022) and finally in the house of the Clergy of Treviso. In a note, his direct successor, the current bishop of Treviso Michele Tommasi, recalled some traits that distinguished Gardin’s style and pastoral character. «We entrust him to the Lord of life, for whom he gave his entire existence, in the beloved family of the Order of Conventual Franciscans, at the service of the universal Church by donating his human, theological and spiritual competence to the promotion of religious and consecrated life, also as secretary of the competent Congregation – we read in Tommasi’s message -. He has lived these last years under the sign of discretion and generous friendship. Since my appointment as bishop of Treviso he has welcomed me with the immediate brotherhood that I have shown to him and I will remain profoundly grateful to him. The diocese of Treviso has numerous reasons to be grateful to him, especially for his continuous invitation to know and love Jesus Christ, the center of existence.”
The solemn funeral in Treviso on 28 June
THE Funerals will be celebrated on Friday 28 June at 10.30 in the Cathedral of Treviso. They will be chaired by the patriarch of Venice and president of the Trivenetian Episcopal Conference, Francesco Moraglia.
A recent image of Archbishop Gianfranco Agostino Gardin – Diocese of Treviso
