Pope Francis has appointed Monsignor Giuseppe Andrea Salvatore Baturi , archbishop of Cagliari , general secretary of the Italian Episcopal Conference.

"We welcome this appointment with joy, trust and gratitude to the Holy Father", comments Cardinal Matteo Zuppi , archbishop of Bologna and president of the CEI.

"This morning - adds the cardinal in a note -, during the extraordinary session of the Permanent Episcopal Council, we renewed our thanks to Monsignor Stefano Russo for the style and zeal with which he lived his mandate".

"I like to read today's appointment as a further sign of the closeness and care with which Pope Francis accompanies the journey of our Churches - adds Zuppi -. Our closeness goes to Monsignor Baturi, who will divide his ministry between Cagliari and Rome . , our prayers and our best wishes. We thank him right now for the spirit of service with which he accepted this assignment ".

"I welcome this appointment as a further call to serve the Churches in Italy , of which the CEI is a concrete figure of unity", the first words after the appointment of Monsignor Baturi. "I thank the Holy Father - he continues - for the confidence he renews in me and for the attention and pastoral care towards the Church of Cagliari, of which I will remain pastor. I express my sincere thanks to the Presidency of the CEI and to the Permanent Episcopal Council. My gratitude to the president , Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, with whom I will have the opportunity to share a service of communion. With him I would like to thank Cardinals Bagnasco and Bassetti with whom I shared my previous experience in the General Secretariat, as director of the Legal Office and undersecretary . An affectionate thought to the previous Secretaries General: Cardinal Betori and the bishops Crociata, Galantino and Russo. Aware of the commitment required, I trust in the cordial participation of the whole Diocese of Cagliari, which will be able to enrich itself with a deeper insertion into the journey of the Church in Italy."

PROFILE - Monsignor Giuseppe Andrea Salvatore Baturi was born on 21 March 1964 in Catania . He graduated in Law from the University of Catania, a Baccalaureate in Theology at the San Paolo Theological Study in Catania and subsequently a Licentiate in Canon Law from the Pontifical Gregorian University. Ordained a priest in 1993, he was parish priest of Valcorrente, a hamlet of Belpasso (Catania) from 1997 to 2010 and diocesan treasurer (1999-2008). He was also Episcopal Vicar for Economic Affairs. He has been chaplain to His Holiness since 2006 and major canon of the Cathedral Chapter of Catania since 2012. From 2012 to 2019 he was director of the National Office for Legal Problems and Secretary of the Council for Legal Affairs of the Italian Episcopal Conference. From 2015 to 2019 he was under-secretary of the CEI .

Elected to the archbishopric of Cagliari on November 16, 2019 , he has so far been vice-president of the Sardinian Episcopal Conference and vice-president of the Italian Episcopal Conference .

SOLINAS: "GREAT PRIDE" - "The Holy Father's choice to appoint Monsignor Giuseppe Baturi general secretary of the Italian Episcopal Conference is a gesture of love and a source of pride for Cagliari and all of Sardinia , a land for which the archbishop of Cagliari has shown, from the moment of his inauguration, a special affection and dedication ". Thus the governor Christian Solinas . "Every opportunity to meet and collaborate with our Archbishop has been for me - adds Solinas - a source of great satisfaction and personal and spiritual enrichment, and it is of great comfort to learn from his own words that his pastoral commitment in Sardinia will continue. even in the presence of the new, very high and prestigious position. In my personal name, of the whole Council and of the Sardinian people, I offer my dearest Monsignor Baturi my best wishes for good work in the service of the Church and for the good of every person ".

TRUZZU: "JOY FOR THE CHURCH AND THE COMMUNITY -" I am happy that Pope Francis this morning appointed Monsignor Baturi general secretary of the CEI - says the mayor of Cagliari Paolo Truzzu - Listening to the news from the voice of our Archbishop I felt joy not only for the Cagliari church but for our entire community . It is fortunate to have him here with us. I wish Giuseppe Baturi my heartfelt wishes: in such difficult times we need a firm and wise guide, who will make us face this time of ours with strength and confidence".

SATTA: "CHRISTIANS IN PARTY" - "The Church of Sardinia is celebrating , and all the Christians of our island are celebrating", the words of Antonio Satta , secretary of the Unione Popolare Cristiana (Upc) movement . Christianity is rooted here. Mons. Baturi in recent years has been characterized by wisdom, pastoral care, closeness to the population. We are happy that Pope Francis has given this gift to all of Sardinia ".

(Unioneonline / vl)

© Riproduzione riservata