On the evening of last Saturday, May 17, Cardinal Vincent Gerard Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, presided over Mass at the Shrine of Perpetual Help, concelebrated by the Rector of the church, Fr. Giovanni Congiu CSsR, the Prefect of the church, Fr. Roni dos Reis CSsR, and other members of the Redemptorist community. His Eminence Card. Vincent is the Titular of The Church of the Most Holy Redeemer and St. Alphonsus on Via Merulana.
In his homily, Cardinal Nichols recalled his participation in the funeral of Pope Francis, his participation in the conclave and the election of Pope Leo XIV. He emphasized that we are all pilgrims of hope, not only in the Jubilee Year, but also throughout our lives, as we move toward the fullness of hope that will be fulfilled when we reach heaven.
The cardinal also cited the coat of arms of Pope Leo, which features the symbol of the heart, recalling that at the moment of baptism, the name of Jesus was written in our hearts. “But even before that, the name of each of us is written in the heart of Jesus Christ. It is there that the commandment of love is rooted, which Jesus left us as his testament to fulfil, so that, by loving one another, we can remain in his love.”
After the celebration, Cardinal Nichols was hosted by the Redemptorist community at the church of St. Alphonsus, consisting of the members of the general curia, professors of the Alphonsian Academy, students and confreres involved in the pastoral care of the sanctuary.
Fr. Grzegorz Ruszaj, CSsR. / Scala News
