Nuncio to Romania: Pope John Paul I is an example of reconciliation

On August 26, the Church marks the liturgical memorial of Blessed Albino Luciani - elected Pope John Paul I in 1978. A few days later on August 30, Archbishop Giampiero Gloder, Apostolic Nuncio to Romania and the Republic of Moldova, celebrated a Mass in honor of the Pope at the parish of the Most Holy Redeemer in Bucharest, Romania.

For the occasion, the Vatican Foundation presented the parish, known as the “Italian Church,” with an icon and a relic of Blessed Luciani. The Romanian association “Pope Luciani” also took part in the celebration.

Hundreds attended the Mass, which was concelebrated by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Bucharest, Archbishop Aurel Percă; Archbishop Emeritus Ioan Robu; the parish priests of the two communities of the “Italian Church,” Father Daniel Bulai and Father Marius Bereșoaie; and other priests from across the country.

In his homily, Archbishop Giampiero Gloder, who is of Venetian origin, recalled the emotion surrounding the evening of Pope John Paul I’s election, highlighting three themes from his general audiences: love, faith, and hope.

“Blessed Pope John Paul I,” he emphasized, “had a great heart, capable of offering attention, a smile, and a gesture of love to every person he encountered, with a generous openness toward others, especially toward that portion of the People of God that the Lord had entrusted to him.”

“In a world like ours,” the archbishop continued, “where personal interests, the thirst for power and domination, conflict and division seem to characterize relationships between individuals and between states, the witness of the concrete love of Blessed John Paul I is also an encouragement for us to always be instruments of reconciliation, communion, and love.”