The funeral of Bishop Emeritus Gianfranco Agostino Gardin will be celebrated on 28 June by Patriarch Moraglia in the cathedral in Treviso
TREVISO – The diocese of Treviso is mourning the death of the Bishop Emeritus, Gianfranco Agostino Gardinfriar minor conventual, which took place on Friday 21 June in the House of the Clergy, where he lived in recent years and where he spent the time of his illness.
“Mgr. Gianfranco Agostino Gardin – we read in a note dated 21 June signed by the current Bishop of Treviso, Michele Tomasi – returned to the Father’s house this afternoon.”
Born in San Polo di Piave (Treviso) on 15 March 1944, Monsignor Gardin met the conventual friars minor in the Frari parish in Venice, asking to enter the convent at 14 years old. After his religious profession in 1965 and his priestly ordination (1970), he continued his studies, graduating in moral theology at the Pontifical Lateran University-Alphonsian Academy.
On 3 June 1995 he was elected Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual. He lived his role with 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. During his mandate he oversaw collaboration on the initiatives of the Franciscan Movement, cooperating with other Franciscan families and with the Secular Franciscan Order.
Monsignor Gianfranco Agostino Gardin was Bishop of Treviso from 7 February 2010 to 6 July 2019.
“In the last months of his life he experienced a period of progressive fragility, accompanied by the care of the managers and staff of the House of Clergy, by the affection of his family and of the many who knew and appreciated him during the years of his ministry”, continues Mgr. Tomasi in the note.
“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 again in the note -. 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,
above all for his continuous invitation to know and love Jesus Christ, the center of existence”.
The funeral will be celebrated on Friday 28 June at 10.30 am at the cathedral of Treviso, presided over by Msgr. Francesco Moraglia, patriarch of Venice and president of the Trivenetian Episcopal Conference.
Luciana Ermini
