THE PRAYER OF THE HOLY FATHER PAUL VI
FOR THE HON. ALDO MORO
What follows the information from John Allen, Jr. is the Holy Father’s emotional speech on May 13, 1978, at the funeral at Aldo Moro’s funer.
At close to the 21 minute mark, John Allen, Jr. spends a few minutes giving us the background of Aldo Moro, PM of Italy, and his friendship with Pope St. Paul VI.
Very worthwhile to hear this story, part of Paul VI’s (& Italy’s) life.
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- Italian PM, Aldo Moro in 1963
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- Pope Paul VI & Aldo Moro
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- John Allen, Editor of Crux Now
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- Crux Logo On Line Catholic Publication
THE PRAYER OF THE HOLY FATHER PAUL VI
FOR THE HON. ALDO MORO
Saturday, May 13 , 1978
And now our lips, closed as if by an enormous obstacle, similar to the large stone rolled at the entrance to Christ’s sepulcher, want to open to express the “De profundis”, that is, the cry and the weeping of the ineffable pain with which the tragedy present suffocates our voice.
Lord, hear us!
And who can hear our lament, if not yet You, O God of life and death? You did not hear our plea for the safety of Aldo Moro, of this good, meek, wise, innocent and friendly man; but You, O Lord, have not abandoned his immortal spirit, marked by the Faith in Christ, which is the resurrection and the life. For him, for him.
Lord, hear us!
Grant, O God, Father of mercy, that communion is not interrupted which, even in the darkness of death, still intercedes between the Dead from this temporal existence and us still living in this day of a sun that inexorably sets. The program of our being redeemed is not in vain: our flesh will rise again, our life will be eternal! Oh! may our faith equalize this promised reality right now. Aldo and all living in Christ, blessed in the infinite God, we will see them again!
Lord, hear us!
And meanwhile, O Lord, grant that, appeased by the virtue of your Cross, our hearts know how to forgive the unjust and mortal outrage inflicted on this dearest Man and on those who have suffered the same cruel fate; let us all collect in the pure shroud of his noble memory the surviving legacy of his upright conscience, of his human and cordial example, of his dedication to the civil and spiritual redemption of the beloved Italian nation!
Lord, hear us!
At the end of the prayer, listened to by the Assembly in silent recollection, Paul VI again underlines his paternal participation in the pain of all with the following expressions addressed to those present in the Basilica and to all others following the celebration from the square in front or through radio and television .
Before the suffrage rite ends, in which we prayed for the eternal peace of this brother of ours, we raise our arms to bless those who are present in this Temple or, not having been able to find a place within its walls, have remained in the square, and again all those who, although far away, are spiritually united to us: in particular we intend to embrace with this paternal gesture of ours even those who bear in their hearts the agony and pain for some of their relatives, victims of such brutal violence. Our afflicted prayer extends to these victims as well. Upon all we invoke, the bearer of serenity and hope, the comforting assistance of the Lord.
