Southern Italy awaiting Pope
on Friday
 |
| a poster of Pope Francis and Bishop Tonino Bello in Alessano. |
Pope Francis is visiting Alessano and Molfetta on April 20
to commemorate the 25th death anniversary of Bishop Tonino Bello, known for his
pastoral outreach and works of peace.
Pope Francis will be on a brief trip to southern
Italy on Friday to commemorate the 25th death
anniversary of a popular Italian bishop known for his pastoral zeal
and works of peace. The Pope will fly to the towns of Alessano and Molfetta associated
with Bishop Tonino (Antonio) Bello of
Molfetta-Ruvo-Giovinazzo-Terlizzi, whose cause for beatification was opened in
2007.
The Pope will fly in the morning from Rome's Ciampino
Airport to the Galatina military airport, on the heel of Italy, from where he
will board a helicopter to Alessano, the town where Bishop Tonino was born and
later buried. Pope Francis will visit the tomb of the bishop and meet
some of his relatives.
After addressing the faithful of Alessano, Pope Francis he
will fly north to the port town of Molfetta, where Bello was bishop and where
he died. He will say Mass in the cathedral and then fly back to Rome
where he is schedule to arrive at around 1:30 pm.
Biography
Bishop Tonino Bello was born in Alessano, Province of Lecce
on 18 March 1935. After attending school in his hometown from 1940 to
1945, he entered the seminary in Ugento and then at the Pius XI
Regional Pontifical Seminary in Molfetta.
He then proceeded to Bologna for higher studies and
completed his theology course at the Benedict XV Ponticial Seminary.
After his priestly ordination Bello was appointed vice-rector
at the seminary of Ugento. He later studied at Rome’s Pontifical Lateran
University from where he obtained a doctoral degree. He then served as an
assistant to the Catholic Action organization, rector of the
seminary and administrator of the Sacred Heart parish of Ugento and parish
priest in Tricase. Meanwhile he was collaborating with Caritas.
Pastoral outreach and works of peace
In 1982, St. Pope John Paul II appointed him Bishop of
Molfetta and Ruvo. Bishop Bello renounced all signs of power and
tried to help the most disadvantaged. He ensured Caritas
groups were established in every parish, founded a community to help
people with addictions.
His pastoral zeal took him to Australia, Argentina
and Venezuela where he visited immigrants from his diocese.
Bishop Bello is greatly known for his work with Pax
Christi, an international Catholic peace movement. He was appointed
the president of Pax Christi Italy in 1985, a position he held until his death.
An outspoken critic of the Gulf War and other conflicts,
he even rallied against the NATO. In December 1992, he led a
group from Italy across the Adriatic to Sarajevo where he
headed a peace march.
Bishop Bello envisaged the Church in “apron”,
evoking the image Christ at the Last Supper who tied a towel (apron)
around his waist, got down on his knees to wash the feet of his disciples
in a symbolic gesture of humble loving service.
Known for his frugal ways, Bishop Bello
preferred to take a bus and often used a bicycle since he felt cars added to
air pollution. He often went out to the streets, bars and restaurants to
interact with people.
He died of stomach cancer in Molfetta on 20 April
1993. He was 58.
Pope Francis is visiting Alessano and Molfetta exactly on
the 25th anniversary of the death of Bishop Tonino Bello.
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