A giant among us

A friendship had been established with Dom Luciano since that January 15, 1988. It was mid-afternoon. An afternoon recounted in the chapter The little father in the book God does not watch the clock: «I think about what my life would have been like if I hadn't known Dom Luciano Mendes de Almeida, Brazilian Jesuit bishop. It was January 15, 1988. At the Porta Nuova station, coming from Milan, I was waiting for the president of the Episcopal Conference of Brazil. In my imagination it must have been a great prelate who was easily recognizable. I didn't find it and had to go back a second time. I didn't find it this time either. Expected at the Arsenale. A second phone call came in saying: "I'm here waiting, and no one is coming". More calmly, he gave me a point of reference and I set off again. I found a humble priest modestly dressed: that's why I hadn't recognized him before.

We had invited him to tell us about Brazil. We wanted to hear from his voice the tragedies and hopes of this people. Dom Luciano instead spoke to us about Lebanon. He came from there, where he had been sent on a religious mission to all the spiritual leaders of that tormented land (at the time he was part of the secretariat of the Synod of Bishops). He looked me in the face as he spoke of the violence and destruction he had seen, and he said to me: "You should go to Lebanon to bring a message of peace". I let myself be taken by that sentence and said: "Yes, if God wills". A few days later in Rome he introduced me to the Maronite Patriarch. The Patriarch accepted Dom Luciano's suggestion and officially invited me to Lebanon to speak to young people about the aspiration for peace. In just a few days I obtained the visa and left». After that first meeting, Ernesto immediately wrote down on a piece of paper: «Today I met Dom Luciano, a good man».

Two days later, on January 17, Dom Luciano wrote: «Dear brother Ernesto Olivero and dearest brothers in the ideal, the peace of Christ. I consider it a special grace to have been able to visit the Arsenal of Peace and to have celebrated the Eucharist with so many brothers in the ideal. I will never forget the moments of dialogue, being together at the table and filial praise to the Mother of us all, singing the Magnificat. God be praised! We will remain united in prayer and in the common desire to be instruments of peace in this world that is still so warlike and divided. I believe that Lebanon too can unite us by the example of faith and by the willingness to collaborate, in what will be possible, for the full recovery of its freedom and its peace. I thank you for all the efforts you are making for Brazil. God will reward you. I ask to be admitted as a member of the International Cooperative for Development association, fully in line with the aims of the association. In union of prayer, fraternal esteem and Christian commitment for peace".

Thank you, Ernesto and Dom Luciano. Two friends who since that day together have put themselves at the service of God's saving plan. They have changed a good part of the world!


Guido Morganti
NP January 2023