Benedict XVI: Remembrance of the 20° Cent. Martyrs

ROME – Pope Benedict XVI went on a pilgrimage to commemorate the martyrs of the 20th Century in the Basilica of St. Bartholomew on the Tiberine Island in Rome on April 7, 2008 on the occasion of the 40° Anniversary of the Community of St. Egidio.

 

For this purpose, the Community of St. Egidio had written to the Apostolic Vicar of Agarico, Msgr. Jesús Sádaba, OFMCap., requesting some relics of the Servants of God, Msgr. Alejandro Labaca, a Capuchin and Sister Inés Arango, a Capuchin Tertiary of the Holy Family. Thus, Msgr. Sádaba sent with a certificate of authenticity a pectoral cross of Msgr. Labaca and a pair of sandals of Sr. Inés. These things had been collected in the second chapel on the right side of the Basilica dedicated to the Martyrs of America, along with the Missal of Msgr. Oscar Romero and the Crozier of the Cardinal of Guadalajara, Msgr. Posadas Ocampo. Present at the ceremony were the following Capuchins: The ex-Minister Provincial of Navarra, Br. Benjamín Echeverría, the Vicar Provincial of Ecuador, Br. Adalberto Jiménez and Br. Alfonso Ramírez, Collaborator to the General Postulator in Rome.

 

The martyrs, who are the friends of Christ, testify with the light of the Risen Lord that the voice of love is stronger than violence. They demonstrate that totalitarianism, persecution and blind brutality are only an apparent victory in the words of Pope Benedict XVI at the time of his remembrance of the 20th Century Martyrs.  He himself defined the significance of this testimony with his visit to the Roman Basilica of St. Bartholomew on the Tiberine Island during the celebration of the Liturgy of the Word in the afternoon of April 7th.  Upon his arrival at this basilica, one of the most ancient places of worship in the Eternal City, there were thousands of faithful and a large wall poster which expressed the deepest appreciation of the Community of St. Egidio to the Pope. This homage to the martyrs of our time coincided with the celebration of the 40° Anniversary of this Catholic movement founded by Andrea Riccardi. Today, it is present in over 70 countries with 50,000 members throughout the world.

 

The church of St. Bartholomew on the Tiberine Island was given to the Community of St. Egidio in 1998 by Pope John Paul II in preparation for the great jubilee celebration of the year 2000.

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