Visit at Canale d'Agordo

- August 26th, 2002 -

The beginning of the preliminary research for the eventual Cause of Beatification of Pope Luciani is announced

Max and Gloria ready for living a day full of expectations at Canale d'Agordo: it was suspected since some months before it would have been given the announcement of the beginning of our beloved "Smiling Pope" Cause of Beatification. I have asked the parish Priest, Fr. Sirio Da Corte, if he knew something about it. He made me understand that "something" was about to be said.

After visiting Edoardo and Antonietta Luciani, we have met two members of our Club: Alessio, with his wife, from Milan, and Patrizia Luciani who lives at Canale.

Max with Patrizia Luciani and some boys from the village

Strip for the XXIV Anniversary at  the entrance to the village

The entrance to Canale d' Agordo

Newspapers publicity as "Corriere delle Alpi"  that says: "Thousands of signatures asking Luciani Saint"

Then, at 4:30 pm, the Mass for the XXIV anniversary, where it is made the solemn announcement for the beginning of the preliminary research for the eventual Cause of Beatification of Pope Luciani:

Official declaration from the Bishop of Belluno

RE: Eventual Cause of Canonisation of Pope Luciani

"Since 1978, year of the death of His Holiness John Paul I, until today, a big number of requests from lay, Religious, Priests and Bishops have been picked up in order to introduce the Cause of Canonisation of Pope Luciani.

In attention to these petitions, last year the Bishop, Msgr. Savio, has given the order to a commision of Priests to proceed to a careful analysis of the situation in order to be able to give an answer to so many faithful who request information about the Cause.

As the rules of the Right regarding the Cause of the Saints establish that the competente Bishop to instruct the Cause is that one from the Diocese in which the Servant of God has died, the same Msgr. Savio and then the commission appointed by him have made contact with the Offices of the Vicariate of Rome in charge of that task, with the Congregation of the Cause of the Saints and the Vatican Secretariate of State.

Msgr. Savio has also heard the opinion from the Bishops of the Triveneta Bishops Conference and from the Presbiterial Diocesan Council.

The requests made have had an attentive and interested acceptance by everybody and this as a demonstration of love for Pope Luciani and the common effort of trying to give an answer to the faithful from all the world who request the canonisation.

Comforted by the sure consensus as from the Bishops as from the Clergy he has met, Msgr. Bishop announces that the Diocese of Belluno-Feltre, diocese where Albino Luciani was born, grown up, been ordered as Priest and fulfilled many years of his ministry, has decided to promote the preliminary research necessary to pick up the informations regarding life and work of Pope Luciani, indispensable premise to every request of introducing a Cause of Canonisation.

It is not, therefore, the starting of the Canonical Cause, but to put the preconditions for its eventual start.

To this purpose, Msgr. Savio will appoint soon a competent person to take the Office of Postulator and he will ask the approval to the Cardinal Vicar of Rome.

Msgr. Savio will also place a Priest of the Diocese of Belluno-Feltre at the Postulator's side by side in order to help him in the task of research. This Priest will be a referral of the Diocese to those who wish to get or give informations regarding the preliminary research that has been instructed.

Msgr. Bishop wishes to invite all the faithful to follow and support this work of research also because, whatever was the result, that will be, anyway, an important contribution to understand a period of history of the Church and Pope Luciani's life.

Following the indications from the Pontifical Congregation of the Cause of the Saints, avoid everyone, inside or outside the Church, those acts (liturgical rites, publications, relics offerings, etc.) that would be able to lead the faithful to believe wrongly that the research about life and virtues of John Paul I, means the certitude of the future canonisation, or in any way, can anticipate the conclusions. These acts, even when they are made as a sincere wish of good, can make more difficult the introduction and the way to the Cause of Canonisation.

While this declaration regarding the commitment that the Diocese of Belluno-Feltre takes on it itself today, is released, Msgr. Bishop reminds that the Diocese follows with so much attention and involvement the Causes already introduced for two Servants of God, born, grown up and ordered as Priests in our Diocese: Fr. Felice Cappello, from Canale d'Agordo, and Fr. Romano Bottegal, from San Donato di Lamon.

These signs of holiness, present in our land, and also the research about Pope Luciani that has started now, can be a stimulus to all us to commit ourselves to live and to witness our faith".

Canale d'Agordo, August 26th 2002

The announcement has been received with a louding applause by those who were listening, with much joy and very moved.

And here I want to include a letter I wrote to remember this day:

24 years waiting

At the end of the Mass, Max and I have waited the Bishop came out of the church to greet him and when we have told him we were from "Amici di Papa Luciani", he answered us: "Now we must be together in this". He meant to all those who were working in order to keep Luciani's memory in high. That is, we must join our efforts.

And afterwards... we went for the refreshment offered to all the present. We have known two Priests very known to us: don Licio Boldrin and don Ettore Fornezza, who both, between stories of anecdotes on Pope Luciani and jokes, have made us laugh a lot. Both of them have been faithful don Albino's close friends. Then, together with the two Priests, we have gone to the pub-pizzeria beside the church and there, with good background music, don Ettore, very kindly, has offered us a drink and we have made a beautiful toast for don Albino and the Cause of Beatification.

Amici

GCM 2002