Madrid, Spain, Feb 28, 2025 /
15:30 pm
The closing ceremony of the diocesan phase of the beatification process of Servant of God Alcide De Gasperi (1881–1954), an Italian politician recognized as one of the “fathers of Europe,” was held Friday at the Lateran Palace in Rome.
Along with the former French minister of foreign affairs, Robert Schuman, already declared venerable by Pope Francis, and German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, after the Second World War De Gasperi was one of the promoters of the project for a united Europe, inspired by the values of Christian humanism. He was a leading figure in the Christian Democratic Party in Italy.
The Christian roots of the European project
In an interview with ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner, Father Manuel Barrios Prieto, secretary-general of the Commission of the Episcopal Conferences of the European Union (COMECE), shared his enthusiasm by highlighting that two of the founders are in the process of canonization.
“De Gasperi was always a man of dialogue who also went through difficult times. I believe that this progress in his beatification process confirms that the roots of the European project are Christian roots,” he said.
The Spanish priest, who holds a doctorate in theology and a degree in clinical psychology, emphasized that “providence” allowed these three politicians to lay the foundations of a Europe “that respects human rights, promotes the dignity of the person and the sense of community, which was a fundamental theme for De Gasperi.”
For Barrios, the spiritual legacy of the Italian politician, who served as Italy’s prime minister from 1945 to 1953 — as already highlighted by Pope Pius XII and St. Paul VI — is based on the conviction that “politics is a high form of charity when it is carried out as a service,” a message that, according to the priest, “remains fundamental in today’s world.”
For the priest, who took office as COMECE’s secretary-general in 2019 and was reelected by the plenary assembly in 2023 for another four-year term, what makes a person holy is “living charity in a full sense.”
De Gasperi “worked to achieve the idea of community and was truly an example of dialogue, even with his political adversaries, something for which he had to suffer,” he noted. In his opinion, the founders of the European project were inspired by the social doctrine of the Church, which influenced the first steps of a project that has now become the European Union.
The Italian politician “sought the common good of all: the dignity of the human being, the dignity of the family, and the dignity of the community but above all, the dignity of the human being as a fundamental principle of political action,” he said.
Although the Christian values of the Europe that De Gasperi defended are sometimes not acknowledged or are not wanted, the priest said they continue to be the foundations of Europe. “What we as Christians must do is to promote them, especially in a difficult time like the present, when there are conflicts, a war in Europe, and geopolitical tensions,” he pointed out.
A common army for Europe
In the current European context, De Gasperi “would seek dialogue with everyone and the common good of Europe as well as unity in diversity,” Barrios said, emphasizing that “he was very committed to seeking a community of defense as well.”
“He wanted to promote a common defense, a common army for Europe, so that it could defend itself. The project ultimately failed, above all because France was not in favor, but it was something important to him. So, in the current context in which we live, with so many tensions, if he were alive, he would take it up again in some form.”
According to the priest, De Gasperi’s roots and culture, both Austrian and Italian, shaped his personality traits. He also stressed that the Italian politician was a family man “and truly a Christian with freedom of conscience.”
In 1932, when he was leader of the Italian Popular Party, he was arrested by the regime of fascist dictator Benito Mussolini. Although he was sentenced to four years in prison, thanks to the mediation of the Vatican he served 16 months. Barrios noted that the letters Gasperi wrote in prison, which in his opinion are “very inspiring,” will constitute a fundamental element for his beatification process.
(Story continues below)
Subscribe to our daily newsletter
Diocesan investigation
The closing rite took place the morning of Feb. 28 in the Lateran Apostolic Palace in Rome and was presided over by the vicar of Pope Francis for the Diocese of Rome, Cardinal Baldassare Reina, who noted that for De Gasperi “Christian charity was a concrete virtue that should be embodied in political life.”
The diocesan inquiry was initiated by the ecclesiastical tribunal of the Archdiocese of Trento, Italy. The prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, after having obtained the consent of both the archbishop of Trento and Reina, has transmitted the rescript, granting the transfer of competence to the Diocese of Rome.
The tribunal that conducted the diocesan inquiry in Rome is composed of Monsignor Giuseppe D’ Alonzo, episcopal delegate; Andrea de Matteis, promoter of justice; and Marcelo Terramani, notary. The postulator of the cause of beatification and canonization is Dr. Paolo Vilotta.
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
Almudena Martínez-Bordiú is Rome correspondent for ACI Prensa and EWTN.
Credit: Source link
