Fr. Mario with Cardinal Capovilla
Fr. Mario Pacifici, who is the founding trustees of Andiamo Youth Cooperative Trust, together with his brother Don Paolo Pacifici and Dr. Annibale Casati, had a meeting with Cardinal Loris Capovilla on Saturday, 18 January 2014 at Sotto il Monte Giovanni XXIII in Italy.
Fr. Mario who is currently in Italy took advantage of the occasion to thank the newly elected Cardinal for the wooden doors, which were donated for the Matola Outstation Church of St. Louis Montfort Parish in Balaka. The wooden doors were those used on the church that Pope John XXIII was baptised. Pope John XXIII will be made Saint later this year.
From Left: Dr. Annibale Casati, Don Paolo Pacifici, Cardinal Loris Capovilla & Fr. Mario Pacifici
The meeting did not take very long as he was waiting for the call from Pope Francis. While at Sotto il Monte Giovanni XXIII, Fr. Mario also met the Parish Priest and the Mayor of the town to organise a show for Alleluya Band. Coincidentally the band will be in Italy the time that Pope John XXIII will be made saint.
Capovilla was appointed bishop to the Archdiocese of Chieti-Vasto on June 1967 and consecrated on 16 July 1967. On 23 September 1971, he was appointed prelate to the Loreto Prelature and Titular Archbishop of Mesembria.
On 12 January 2014 Pope Francis announced Capovilla would be elevated to the College of Cardinals on 22 February 2014, “as a reward for his lifetime service to the Church.
Cardinal Capovilla was born on 14 October 1915. At 98, he is one of the oldest Roman Catholic Bishops. He formed a close friendship with Cardinal Roncalli who later became Pope John XXIII mainly when the Cardinal was the Patriarch of Venice. He remained at Roncalli’s side as Papal Secretary after his election to the Papacy and until the Pope’s death.
By P.K.B