CYPRUS – On Saturday, March 16th, 2024, at the Filoxenia Conference Center, His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, along with His Most Reverend Eminence Card. Fortunato Frezza, Deaconry of S. Maria in Via Lata – Romem, and His Most Reverand Excellency Mons. Selim Jean Sfeir, Maronite Archbishop of Cyprus, consecrated Msgr. Bruno Varriano, OFM, the Patriarchal for Vicar for Cyprus, as a Bishop. 340 years after the presence of the last bishop of the Catholic Church on the Island of Cyprus.
“We gather in this special place for an equally special event: the consecration of a Latin bishop, at the service of the island of Cyprus,” said H.B. Card. Pizzaballa, while expressing that: “The last resident Latin bishop on the island died exactly 340 years ago. What we are witnessing today is a historic moment for our Church, for the Latin Patriarchate, but I would also say for everyone. A moment of celebration, a beautiful moment for the Church, which I hope will help us strengthen our sense of community and unity”.
Cardinal Américo Manuel Alves Aguiar, Bishop of Setúbal (Portugal), Cardinal Odilo Pedro Scherer, Metropolitan Archbishop of São Paulo (Brazil), and Mgr Giovanni Pietro dal Toso, Apostolic Nuncio to Jordan and Cyprus, attended the Episcopal Ordination, along with 40 bishops and hundreds of priests. Not to mention, the participation of the Latin Patriarchate priests, who came to celebrate with their brothers and sisters in Cyprus, which is considered part of the Diocese of Jerusalem. Also, the Seminary students of Beit Jala supervised the altar service, along with the Franciscan monks, and various religious orders. Among the assembly were hundreds of faithful, the Knights and Dames of the Holy Sepulcher, Archbishop Georgios, the head of Cyprus’ Orthodox Church, who also attended as a representative of the Orthodox Patriarchate in Jerusalem, along with the Armenian Metropolitan of Cyprus, and the heads of the Evangelical churches.
Coupled with, those who attended from the governmental institutes: the representative of the Minister of State, the Minister of State for Cultural Affairs, the President of the Supreme Court, the Minister of the Interior, a representative of Foreign Affairs, a representative of the United Nations, a representative of the Latin and Maronite Church in the Parliament, and a few policemen, security, and diplomats.
The hall included more than 1,300 participants, along with the consecrated bishop’s family and friends, who came from Italy, to participate in this joyful celebration.
The celebration began with the entry of the procession of the altar boys and priests. Including Fr Bruno’s godparents, Fr. Francesco Patton, the Custos of the Holy Land, and Fr. Antoine Harimat, a priest of the Latin Patriarchate, who accompanied him to his designated seat. All, while the choir, which was composed of various parishioners of Cyprus, sang various hymns, in several languages (e.g. English, Latin, and Greek), bringing an angelic-like atmosphere to the celebration.
In his homily, Card. Pizzaballa addressed the new Bishop, saying: “For the past years, new pastoral challenges have arisen on the Island of Cyprus, as well as in the life of the diocese in general. This calls on an increasingly solid ecclesial presence and requires a different and more courageous pastoral service, extended to all the faithful scattered throughout our territory, who are often placed into very vulnerable social situations… Your first concern is to be a neighbor to all (cf. Lk 10:36), to support the needs of all, as best as possible, but knowing that your first task is to be the image of the Good Shepherd, to bring everyone back to meet the Risen One, the true and only Good Shepherd”.
And, while referring to the necessity of building a sound and effective pastoral plan in Cyprus, H.B. Card. Pizzaballa said: “The first, and I would say only pastoral plan you will have to present is to testify that meeting Christ is the most beautiful thing that can happen to a person and that a Christian community draws its life from the Eucharist before any other activity. By doing everything possible to make the life of Christ incarnate in the life of our communities. The way to do this is precisely what has just been proclaimed in the Gospel: by serving, by making yourself a servant, by loving freely, without demanding anything. Give your life daily to the flock entrusted to you”.
Then, the rite of ordination began as H.B. Card. Pierbattista Pizzaballa asked the bishop-elect about his readiness for this new service and mission to the Catholic Church. Then, Fr. Bruno prostrated on the floor, to illustrate the reality of self-emptying and the outpouring of himself to the service of the church. Meanwhile, all present recited the Litany of Saints. Then, Fr. Bruno stood up and the Holy Bible was placed above his head, as H.B. recited the prayer of consecration.
This is followed by the anointing of the new bishops’ hands with chrism oil, which communicates his consecration to God’s service. Then, the Holy Bible was handed to him, which is the constitution of his life. Then the three symbols for his consecration: the Miter, Pastoral, and Episcopal ring, were bestowed on him. Finally, Card. Pizzaballa, asked the new bishop, Msgr. Varriano, to rise, set on his chair, in front of the flock entrusted to him, to serve and pastor.
At the end of Mass, before the final blessing of H.B. Card. Pizzaballa, His Excellency Msgr. Bruno Varriano did a procession around the faithful and gave his first blessing as a Bishop to the Island of Cyprus.
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