4. Juli 2003 in English
"It is a truly significant milestone which Providence has allowed you to reach"
VATICAN (kath.net/VIS)
At noon in the Clementine Hall, the Popereceived in a special audience Cardinal Corrado Bafile, who turns 100 today,and members of his family. The cardinal was born in Aquila in the Abruzziregion of Italy.
In a letter for the occasion, dated June 19 and made public today, theHoly Father writes to the cardinal referring to his hundred years of life:"It is a truly significant milestone which Providence has allowed you toreach."
"I think especially about how you, having embraced the priesthood in youradult years, have always been at the service of the Holy See, carrying outimportant and delicate offices for long periods of time. After twenty yearsof much-appreciated work in the Secretariat of State, Blessed John XXIII ...appointed you as apostolic nuncio in Germany and consecrated you archbishopin 1960." After 15 years of diplomatic service in Bonn, Pope Paul VI"entrusted you with the task of directing the Dicastery of the Causes ofSaints and included you among the members of the College of Cardinals. Itwas May 24, 1976."
John Paul II expressed his gratitude to Cardinal Bafile for all that hehas done "as a generous and competent collaborator of mine and of myvenerated predecessors. I would like to especially underscore the spiritualconvictions that have always guided your actions. All of those who have hadthe privilege to be by your side not only in the service of the ApostolicSee, but also in the Sodality of the 'Abruzzesi' in Rome and in the Legionof Mary, unanimously testify to the apostolic and priestly dedication thatalways has inspired your service in the different stages of your long life."
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