My episcopate is under Mary’s protection

Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti, president of the Italian Bishops' Conference (CEI), confided in an interview with Italian Catholic television TV2000, on September 24, 2019, that his episcopate "is under Mary’s protection." His remark came after the Mass in celebration of the 25th anniversary of his episcopal ordination:

"I express my gratitude to Mary because I was consecrated a bishop on September 8th, (feast of the Nativity of Mary), I placed my episcopate under her protection on that same date, received an appointment to Arezzo on November 21st (feast of the Presentation at the Temple and the Purification of Mary), then received an appointment to Perugia on July 16th (feast of Our Lady of Carmel); and today, I am celebrating this anniversary on the feast of the Virgin of Mercy."

"Mary taught me," the Archbishop of Perugia added, "what she said to the servants at Cana: ‘Do whatever he tells you to do! Do not let one word of Jesus fall into the void.’ During these past 25 years, I have placed my life at the service of the Gospel, the poor and especially the fragile."

Unlike the presidents of the other Episcopal Conferences of the world, who are elected, the president of the Italian Episcopal Conference is appointed by the pope, who is the bishop of Rome. On May 24, 2017, Cardinal Bassetti succeeded the Cardinal Archbishop of Genoa, Angelo Bagnasco, who had chaired the CEI for 10 years.

Adapted from: Zenit