Dear Mrs. Kochan,
This small news item appeared yesterday on Catholic Exchange:
"'Pope Cancels Trip in Rome Over Security' –Source: Telegraph"
I don't know what further coverage it was given in America but it caused an explosive situation here in Italy like nothing I've ever seen before. And I write because I do believe that it is very important for Catholics around the world to know what is happening in Rome–but I especially care that my fellow Americans know!
It was a great blow for all Italians, Catholic and non-Catholic alike that Pope Benedict was forced to cancel his talk at the Roman university, La Sapienza. So, Cardinal Ruini has called all the faithful to fill St. Peter's square for the Angelus on Sunday (12:00pm Italy time) and it seems that all of Italy is mobilizing so as to partecipate one way or another in this call for a show of love and support for the Pope.
Without a doubt, the call to fill St. Peter's square is also meant to be a crushing sign for the many priests and bishops in Italy who have been openly defying the Pope since–well, I was about to say since the motu proprio and then I thought, no, since the speech at Regensburg, but it's even before that–it's been ever since he became Pope. I certainly wish to underline that this is not an issue which concerns only the faithful in Italy (goodness no! and it becomes clearer and clearer to me that whatever happens in Italy is always pertinent to the universal Church and to faithful across the globe).
I invite everyone who can to tune in–I don't know if EWTN or other US Catholic networks have a habit of presenting the Sunday Angelus from Rome. I hope so! But if they don't I would invite them to be there for this Angelus. It has already been announced that even many well known atheists will come in support of the Pope. One of them, the newspaper editor, Vittorio Feltri, declared today that he would suspend his atheism for a day, however much it might cost him, and go to St. Peter's with his Baptismal certificate in hand–to show that though he professes atheism, the Baptismal certificate still means everything to him.
Much of the government will be present. Various regional government heads have already announced that they will be there–and I have a feeling that Ruini's call went well beyond the borders of Italy and that people will be coming from other countries as well.
I hope American Catholics will be able to tune-in to what promises to be a magnificent family get-together in support of our much loved Father!
Best wishes,
Mrs. Catherine Zeppa Di Matteo
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Dear Mrs. Di Matteo
Thank you so very much for your email giving us an at-the-scene understanding of what the situation in Rome is like. Coverage here has been scant due to focus on our election primaries, so your news is very welcome and I will be sure to share this with our readers.
Blessings,
Mary Kochan, Senior Editor, Catholic Exchange
