WELCOME TO THE CARDINAL
HIS EMINENCE MOST REVEREND CARLO CAFFARRA
METROPOLITAN ARCHBISHOP OF BOLOGNA

(Catanzaro, Politeama Theatre, March 14, 2007)

Most Reverend Eminence,
With immense joy the Apostolic Movement has waited for this day and in prayer prepared itself to welcome your voice, that we know in the faith, to be the voice of Jesus Christ: “He who hears you hears me” (Lk 10.16).
The theme that You, Eminence, you will deal with for us on this our 2 nd National Convention: “So whoever is in Christ is a new creation” (2 Cor 5.17), takes us into the heart of Paul, for whom “Life is Christ, and death is gain”(Phil. 1:20-21).
The concrete forms the Apostolic Movement uses to build every day this new creature in Christ Jesus, are indicated by the same passage that you, Eminence, chose as the title of this meeting: “We are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God”(2 Cor 5.18 to 20).
At the beginning the journey of the Apostolic Movement, founded November 3, 1979, through Mrs. Maria Marino, was almost invisible, as small as the mustard seed of the Gospel, a few people. Then little by little, the little flock started to grow more and more up to becoming “like the stars of heaven and as the sand on the seashore” (Genesis 22:27).
Reminding and announcing the Word of Jesus, the Apostolic Movement has always led to the heart of the Gospel, which is the heart of the Church, the heart of Christ and the Virgin Mary. This is the only place where every disciple of Crucified and Risen Lord is called to live.
The Church lives of Eucharist and every grace that comes from the sacraments of salvation. She lives of prayer elevated to God without interruption together with the pure and intense love for the Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, invoked with the Holy Rosary.
The heart which is transformed by the love of Jesus Christ, it also becomes an ambassador of the Gospel, of the Word, a herald of Christ and His Mystical Body; a missionary of the faith to call every man to let himself be reconciled to God. This is the mission the Apostolic Movement, Eminence. Not outside of the Church, not beside her.
To all of you who wanted to take part in our 2 nd National Convention, my warmest greetings. I thank the distinguished Bishops, priests, Religious Man and Women, the Consecrated Lay Women, the Political, Civil and Military Authorities at all levels, the Adherents to the Apostolic Movement.
A special greeting to the Inspirer of the Apostolic Movement, Mrs. Maria Marino, to its President Mrs. Cettina Marraffa, and to the Shepherd of this Archdiocese Monsignor Antonio Ciliberti.
To You, Eminence, all our thanks and gratitude of the Apostolic Movement. I ask You that you at the end may bless us with the blessing of Christ and the love of his Mother.

Monsignor Costantino Di Bruno
Central Ecclesiastical Assistant of the Apostolic Movement