date: 05.04.2022.
Mons. Luigi Bonazzi, Apostolic Nuncio to Albania, celebrated the Holy Mass in Medjugorje tonight (April 4, 2022). The Apostolic Visitator with a special role for the parish of Medjugorje Archbishop Aldo Cavalli, Archbishop Metropolitan of the Archdiocese of Tirana-Durres in Albania Msgr. Arjan Doda, parish vicar in Medjugorje, Fr. Renato Galić and six other priests concelebrated at Holy Mass.
At the beginning, Archbishop Bonazzi said that it was his pleasure to celebrate the Holy Eucharist here in Medjugorje for the first time. Welcoming the faithful and concelebrants, he emphasized that he was friends with Archbishop Cavalli and that they came from the same place.
''We are in the fifth week of Lent on Monday. We are approaching Easter and we know that the first gift of the Risen Jesus is peace. We need the Queen of Peace to give us peace. In communion with the whole church, we pray for the gift of faith and peace", said Msgr. Bonazzi introducing the Mass celebration.
In his homily, Msgr. Bonazzi referred to a reading from the Book of the Prophet Daniel, which "tells us about a woman who was caught - Susanna. They accused her of something she could not defend herself against and what was her reaction?“ Archbishop Bonazzi asked. “She does not look for a human way to get out of this difficulty, she raises her eyes and turns to the Lord, saying to him, 'You know I am innocent, help me.' This is the Christian attitude when a sudden difficulty enters our lives that we cannot solve. The Christian attitude, above all, is to look up, to heaven, to God. Put your trust in the Lord and see what He wants to tell us”, said Archbishop Bonazzi, referring to the war in Ukraine, emphasizing that we are all affected by this great tragedy and that we all suffer because of this war. “And the Russians suffer because of this, because evil does evil especially to those who do it. One voice that goes to heaven and says ‘Lord, help us’, I think is especially the voice of Pope Francis, who from the very beginning has spoken strongly to stop this war, but is not only addressing politicians. He addresses himself primarily to the Lord and begs us to do the same. The mercy and gift of peace is so much greater than anything politicians want. And we unite, like Susanna, with Pope Francis and ask Him to help us. And let this time, which prepares us for the feast of Easter, help us all to seek the gift of peace. Let us also try to take part in this struggle, which is a struggle for peace”, are the words with which Archbishop Bonazzi concluded his homily.
