At the exit of the long hearing in the blessing room, the first with Pope Leo XIV, Monsignor Fortunato Morrone, archbishop of Reggio Calabria-Bova and president of the Episcopal Calabrian conference, returns the image of a pontiff in “clear continuity with Pope Francis”but animated by a “renewed pastoral momentum” which puts “the announcement of Jesus and the synodal path” back to the center.
“Certainly a clear continuity with Pope Francis – explains Morrone -: the themes that were in the heart of Bergoglio, despite the discontinuity of taking and the pastoral cut of Pope Leo, were resumed and relaunched. Peace and the poor, for example, asking us more commitment on these slopes ».
The prelate speaks of an atmosphere of encouragement widespread among the bishops: “He urged us not to discourage us and look forward with the healthy and beautiful trust of that” certain hope “of which the apostle Paul speaks to us”. The strongest impression is enclosed in a colloquial expression: “This hope – sorry if I use a somewhat youthful term – has proved to be “a blow of life, better, of hope”, a beautiful breatha nice push to look forward ». According to Morrone, the Pope proposed “a Christological and anthropological cut together”, recalling several times “units between us bishops and with him with the collegial and synodal styleciting, as was imaginable, his dear Sant’Agostino ».
Asked about the emergencies entrusted to the Calabrian churches, the President of the CEC has no doubts: «For our churches in Calabria I believe that the priority, among those that he has given us, is certainly announced Jesus. It seems obvious ». The announcement, however, must take on a precise form: “We are theAnnouncement of Jesus should be declined with more strength in terms of liberation from the fear that arises from a subtle atavistic submission to those more or less strong powers, of every color and matrix, which heavily condition the social, economic and cultural life of us Calabrians». The Pope, adds Morrone, “has warned us from a certain power that if it is not evangelical will not be able to offer that freedom of the children of God” indispensable to the cultural and human redemption of the territory.
In the context of “accelerated times” marked by secularism, artificial intelligence and biotechnologyLeone XIV drew attention to the centrality of the person: “He urged us to be attentive to the anthropological dimension with all its essential dimensions for the announcement of the Gospel”. An invitation, concludes Morrone, to “put together hopes, beauties and energy” of Calabria, “with coordination and creative synodal collaboration for the redemption of our land”.
