Wall Plaque Commemorates Papal Visit
Published: 29 August 2014
Sant’Agostino
A wall plaque was unveiled in the Basilica di Sant’Agostino, the “mother church” of the Augustinian Order in Rome, on St Augustine’s Day 2014 to commemorate the presence there exactly a year earlier by Pope Francis to open the 184th general Chapter of the Order of St Augustine.
On 28 August 2014 at 6:30 pm, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of the Vatican City, presided at the Mass of the Celebration. The Prior General and many Augustinians concelebrated along with friars from the Recollect and Discalced Augustinians in Rome and other male and female religious of the Augustinian family, and many faithful filled the Church for the celebration.
The Prior General, Fr Alejandro Moral, told the congregation, “A year has passed since we experienced with spiritual emotion the visit of Pope Francis. He himself presided at the Eucharist, which opened the celebration of our 184th General Chapter, (28 August 2013). Without doubt, it was a moment of great historical relevance; it was the first time that a Pope inaugurated our General Chapter. It was also and above all a moment of intense spiritual reflection.”
At the plaque are (left to right) Fr Paolo Benedik OSA the papal sacristan, Prior General Alejandro Moral Anton OSA, and Cardinal Parolin.
Before the final blessing at the Mass Cardinal Parolin went with the concelebrants and the faithful turned their attention to the unveiling of the a marble plaque that was located on the left hand pillar leading into the Chapel of Saint Monica on the left side of the main sanctuary in the Church. The Cardinal uncovered a marble plaque that commemorates the meeting and Mass celebrated the year before on 28 August 2013 at which Pope Francis opened the General Chapter.
Below is text of the commemorative plaque, translated from Italian:
