On Sunday 14 November, the National Shrine of Aparecida received the Apostolic Nuncio to Brazil, Msgr. Giambattista Diquattro. Appointed by Pope Francis in August 2020, after the departure of Bishop Giovanni d’Aniello, the Apostolic Nuncio attended the noon Mass at the Central Altar of the National Shrine.
The Holy Mass was presided by the Archbishop Emeritus of Aparecida, Cardinal Raymundo Damasceno and concelebrated by the present Archbishop Msgr. Orlando Brandes, by the Rector of the Shrine, Father Eduardo Catalfo, by the bursar, Father Luiz Cláudio Alves de Macedo, by the Provincial Superior of the Redemptorist Province of San Paolo, Father Marlos Aurélio da Silva and several Redemptorist Missionaries.
It is a tradition for the Apostolic Nuncio to visit the National Shrine of Aparecida at the beginning of his mission in Brazil. Msgr Giambattista arrived in Brazil on 7 January 2021. Still, due to the health restrictions caused by the covid-19 pandemic, he had to wait until this day to pay a visit to the Shrine.
In his homily, Archbishop Raymundo greeted the Apostolic Nuncio: “Welcome, Msgr. Nuncio, to the National Shrine, the home of Mother Aparecida. Today, in this Eucharistic celebration, in front of the small image of the Patroness and Queen of Brazil, we pray for the success of your mission to the Church in Brazil and the Brazilian government. May the Blessed Virgin Mary pray to her Divine Son to enlighten you in the honourable task of representing the Holy Father on Brazilian soil”, he said.
At the end of the celebration, Msgr Giambattista Diquattro asked Our Lady Aparecida to protect all the Brazilian people, watching over the poorest and most abandoned.
“May Our Lady of Aparecida support the discarded, those who are in the hands of criminals. May She bring the people social justice. We pray with love for all the Brazilian people. May she, our Mother, who was found by poor fishermen, be found today by all, in a special way, by those in need of work, education and all those who are without dignity”, said Mgr Giambattista De cuatro.
Before the celebration, Msgr Giambattista Diquattro visited the Chapel of the Apostles, a reserved space behind the image of Our Lady of Aparecida and received a facsimile image of the Patroness of Brazil as a gift from Msgr. Orlando Brandes.
(a12.com)
