Sunday at the hearing on May 30, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has come to refer to his beloved venerable predecessor Pius XII. Has been to go after the Angelus, a group of pilgrims to Rome from Pordenone (region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia) to pay tribute to his countryman Cardinal Celso Costantini (1876-1958), whose diary was recently published and presented in Rome. The Pope's words were these: "Infine, il mio rivolgo with Affetto SALUTO i pellegrini di lingua Italiana. In particolare to folto gruppo per onorare Venuto da Pordenone Cardinale memory Celso Costantini, the quale è stato presentato due giorni fa a Roma il volume of the Journal, dal titolo della Ai Margini war (1938-1947) . Questa pubblicazione è di interesse storico large. Il Cardinale Costantini, molto legato Pope Pius XII, when he was a Segretaria scrisse della di Propaganda Fide Congregation. Il suo l'immense opera testifies Journal compiuta dalla anni Holy See in quegli drammatici favorire the pace e per tutti i bisognosi soccorrere. "
"I run, finally, a warm greeting to the Italian-speaking pilgrims. In particular the compact group from Pordenone to honor the memory of Cardinal Celso Costantini, which was presented in Rome two days ago the volume of the Journal under the title Among the margins of the war (1938-1947). This publication is of great historical interest. Cardinal Costantini, closely linked to Pope Pius XII, the wrote when he was secretary of the Congregation of Propaganda Fide. His diary bears witness to the immense work done by the Holy See in those dramatic years to promote peace and relief to those in need. "
These few words of the Pope are very important: it emphasizes the historical significance of a book whose content is a first-hand testimony of the positive beneficial action of the Holy See in favor of victims of war, which speaks Benedict XVI in terms of "immense work." The Holy See understands, as we know, the Pope and the Roman Curia, which makes it unlawful to speak of Catholic initiatives in defense and protection of the persecuted and the victims as if they were the result of a private decision. No, was the Vatican, the Pope and his collaborators, those who knowingly, directly or indirectly deployed a vast and effective humanitarian work. The happily reigning Holy Father has seen fit to emphasize the strong bond that united the venerable Pius XII and Cardinal Costantini, as saying: "there is a witness close to Pacelli, who can attest to what the Pope did." As the more reliable witness who died before the storm that shall rise against this priest slander and, therefore, had no interest in making up the truth.
Significantly, the daily Office of the Holy See, L'Osservatore Romano, published in its edition of the Sunday a couple of articles devoted to the presentation of the Daily Cardinal Costantini, in which is even more explicit and detailed reference to the venerable Pius XII and reproduce then our English version.
Letter of the Cardinal Secretary of State on the occasion of the publication of the Journal
first apostolic delegate to China
Celso Costantini
and the triple role of Pius XII
The documents emerge a pontificate open to modernity, which resulted in the Vatican II
On Friday May 28 was submitted to the Chamber of Deputies the volume prepared by Bruno Fabio della Pighin Ai Margini war (1938 to 1947 ) [In the boundaries of the War (1938-1947)] , which brings to light the hitherto unpublished diary of Cardinal Celso Constantini (Venezia, Marcianum Press, 2010, 640 pages, 50 €). The cardinals were present Zenon Grocholewski, Bernard Francis Law and Giovanni Coppa, and Monsignor Juan Ignacio Arrieta Ochoa, Bishop of Chinchetru. On this occasion, the president of the Italian Republic, Giorgio Napolitano, sent a personal message and the Cardinal Secretary of State sent on behalf of Benedict XVI, a letter to Cardinal Ivan Dias, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, which presented a paper, published then practically integer. Reproduce the text was read by Archbishop secretary of the Congregation, Archbishop Robert Sarah.
Letter of Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone
The present volume della Margini Ai war (1938-1947) , which contains the unpublished diary of Cardinal Celso Costantini, published with the diligent participation of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, has reached the hands of the Pope, who expressed his special appreciation.
His Holiness had under his eyes the manuscript of this illustrious figure cardinal who was secretary of the important dicastery dedicated to spreading the Catholic faith and has asked me to express a deep gratitude for having encouraged the publication of a text first hand that provides valuable information, knowledge and experience acquired by the gigantic direct in the field of charity and Christian witness of the political wisdom of the response to the vastness of the needs that the Apostolic made for different populations and various ethnic and cultural groups during the difficult period of ideological empires.
documents a prelate particularly close to the Holy Father, published in the voluminous and painstaking book, talk about the anguish of a Europe stifled by bloodthirsty opposites and extremes, as well as the desire for reasonable people, eager for peace, justice and true legality, soaked twenty centuries of Christian civilization.
In the period which occupies the Daily Cardinal Celso Costantini is necessary to highlight the constant, selfless and strong commitment of Pope Pius XII of the Roman Curia and all church-bishop, priest, religious or religious, for charitable purposes and certainly not propaganda. Promote peace, promote respect for universal rights, maintain equity, avoid evil, to provide shelter, turn on the need to exclude participation in violent political passions: these are the demands that Monsignor Costantini then-partner and true friend of Pope Pacelli-registered every day in his memoirs with great precision and detail.
Among his notes, His Holiness has highlighted the following words, which are of December 26, 1941, written by Monsignor Costantini after repeatedly emphasized the great attention and action of Pope Pacelli to all, especially to the needy and persecuted: Pius XII is "providential mission was threefold always, but especially in these bad in quibus vidimus : the Master, the Judge, the Father (...) The activity of the Pope, rather than decreased and almost closed in a desolate grief, multiplied prodigiously ".
Eminence, private memories Cardinal Celso Costantini, though not exclusively deal with great and just indignation of the sad fate of peoples and classes of persons subjected to the inhuman destinations. The documents released through the efforts and interest of Bishop Bruno Fabio Pighin also speak of the tireless and generous work of evangelization of the Church, deep and articulate theological reflection that led to the Second Vatican Council, the cultural approach, social and policy of the papacy of Pius XII to modernity. It is, therefore, highly significant and useful writings.
The Holy Father, and expects them to be assessed with fair and reasonable spirit, wishes to express again its deep appreciation for the initiative, which was considered a valid contribution to the historical truth.
(© L'Osservatore Romano, May 30, 2010)
Parallel Lives in the whirlwind of war
refuted the charges against Pacelli
before they were born
ignoble prejudices built on sand
by Cardinal Ivan Dias
studies so far carried out on the cardinal showed the deep friulano mark left in the universal Church. Here I simply wish recall some of their strategies: traced a spiritual bridge between East and West being the first apostolic delegate to China, as secretary of the Propaganda Fide, printed frankly innovative paths to missionary activity, through its work were consecrated by Pope Pius XI in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, the first six Chinese bishops (October 28, 1926), a crucial step for the coronation of his missionary work in China. In 1939 he was the only prelate of the Roman Curia who dared to propose the convening of an ecumenical council to reform the Church, in short, committed, with clear-sightedness, the creation of a united Europe, in solidarity with all community other nations. But even after his death, Celso Costantini never ceases to amaze with his diary, written when he was secretary of the Pontifical Council which I chair.
Reading the text now coming to light greatly impressed by the role he played during the Second World War. Had maintained close relations with men of government, political exponents, with prelates from around the world, intellectuals and artists, but also humble people, especially overwhelmed by the misery and despair. For the latter, including Jews, Monsignor Celso became a reference point, sometimes essential, in terms of relief, as it was for save the life of the great Italian statesman Alcide De Gasperi, despite the threat of deportation to Nazi concentration camps.
The Journal Constantini written in the most dramatic period of modern history, ie from 1938 to 1947, remained unpublished until now for obvious reasons. It is not yet possible to consult the documents relating to those years held by the Vatican Secret Archives and in many other sites. However, the publishing house conducted by Archbishop Bruno Fabio Pighin is revealed as a valuable resource is the History of Italy for the Church, which also allows to fill an important gap in the biography of Cardinal, which now shines more than before among the eminent personalities of the past century.
I encourage the production of other publications related to the figure of the cardinal Friulian, as it could be that of his voluminous correspondence, in the just-born security foundation that bears his name know to support initiatives of great cultural and spiritual. I would like to point out here
something that has been suggested by the book's cover, which plays two characters in an intense dialogue among them: Pio XII e il cardinale Celso Costantini.
Both were born the same year (1876), were also ordained the same year (1899), both were at service of the diplomacy of the Holy See, lived next to the Roman Curia, and worked closely in perfect harmony and cooperative spirit. Costantini was created cardinal by Pope Pius XII, the two died the same year in the same month (October 1958). All this may seem a mere coincidence, but I think it is, instead, a plan of Providence, especially when reading this diary, which has closely engaged for peace, for the assistance to victims of any religion or ethnicity, for the construction of a new world on the rubble left by World War II.
This book, written some seventy years ago, ie no time suspects (ie, before the emergence of defamatory campaigns and baseless accusations against Pope Pacelli), helps to destroy what is a sand castle, based on ignoble prejudice against Pius XII. Brings up his noble figure, which is made greater in the middle of the horrible tragedy that he knew face as a true shepherd of lost humanity and deeply outraged.
Efforts to throw mud on the figure of the pope in history repeats itself, but the operation "truth eventually prevails over the more sophisticated schemes. So I think the value of this Journal transcends its intrinsic qualities and remarkable and makes it a place among the writings which appear must face the issue of dialogue between the Church and the contemporary world.
(© L'Osservatore Romano, May 30, 2010)
