e) UNIVERSAL CHURCH AND LOCAL CHURCH

"The Pope is the center and the creator of other centers"

The Pope attracts and radiates, gathers into one and diffuses.  He is the center of the whole Christian world and is at once the creator of other centers.

Unworthy though I be, I am your bishop.  Who has given me authority over your souls?  Who has invested me, in the internal and external forum, with that legislative, judicial, and executive power which constitutes the spiritual sovereignty of my episcopal ministry within the territory of the Diocese of Piacenza?  Who has placed the keys of the kingdom of heaven into my hands on your behalf?  Jesus Christ, of course, since everything comes from him in the supernatural order, but Jesus Christ through the Pope.

To whom will I give the keys of the heavenly kingdom? he asked Peter.  To you: "To you I will give" (...).  Naturally, those keys will have to pass into other hands, but always through your hands.  That power (within more or less ample limits) will have to be conferred on others, but by you and at your pleasure.  St. Cyprian says that, just as the energy of the members of the human body flows from the head, the life of the branches from the roots, the water of the brooks from the spring, and light from the rays of the sun, in the same way all hierarchical powers flow from the See of Peter as from a visible spring.  If it were not thus, with what right would I call myself your bishop? ³²

"The whole episcopate finds its center in the Bishop of bishops"

I am touched by the praise that comes from beloved friends but even more so the praise that comes to me from you because it has a higher aim than my humble person.  The praise given a bishop, deserved though it might be ‑- surely not in my case ‑- is basically praise of the episcopate which, with its divine character, its grace of office, its heavenly dignity, and its power of jurisdiction ‑- a reflection of Jesus Christ's own power of jurisdiction ‑- is always the limpid and living source of all the good a bishop performs.

Since the whole episcopate finds its center in the Bishop of bishops, the Pope, and finds its unity in him and is, in fact, like the body of one

single moral person, with the Roman Pontiff as its visible head, it follows that the praise given a bishop is not only praise given to the episcopate but, in a very special way, is also praise of that supreme papal power in which the episcopate lives and thrives. ³³

"The purest glory of the Diocese of Piacenza"

For twenty-five years you sit on this infallible throne.  For twenty-five years you adorn this throne with your word, your example, the splendor of a singular wisdom and the exercise of the highest virtues.  Twenty-five years of assiduous care and magnanimous battles, years full of holy, glorious, and immortal works (...).  From the bottom of our hearts we thank you for the good you have done for us because your word which the Spirit of God inspires and accompanies makes us strong with your strength, brave with your bravery, steadfast and fearless like you.

Sincere and loving union with the See of Peter was always the purest, most desired, and most cherished boast of the Diocese of Piacenza.  Today this Diocese, through me, renews its protestations of loyalty and respect for your august person and loudly proclaims its desire to continue its ancestral traditions, knowing full well that, in union with the Roman Pontiff and in full and perfect conformity with your teachings and desires, lies also the welfare of our country. ³⁴

"The bishop: head of a Church that lives its own life within the great unity of the universal Church "

To be a bishop means to belong to everybody and no longer to oneself.  To be a bishop means to be, in the highest degree and through the exalted power of the priesthood, father of a family, head of a Church that lives its own life within the great unity of the universal Church (...).

The ecclesiastic who does not put into practice the golden words of St. Ignatius Martyr fails in his most sacred duties: "Be subject to your bishop as if to Jesus Christ.  Obey your bishop as Jesus obeyed his Father" (...).

These were the eminently apostolic rules that stood out in the life of our saintly bishop.  He constantly deplored the decline of these rules

and the great evils that, as a result, would accrue to the Church.  He used to say (...) that what would hasten the victory of the Church and make of her an army in battle array would undoubtedly be an indestructible attachment to the center of Catholic unity, as well as respect, love, and obedience in all things to the Roman Pontiff, but never separated from respect, love, and obedience for episcopal authority, on which the welfare of the Church is founded and rests, as a Church Father teaches us. ³⁵

"We the bishops are all brothers"

Coming together for the first time to discuss matters dealing with the pastoral care of your souls and united in a spirit of obedience and devotion to the common Father of the faithful, we found that meeting each other and feeling like brothers was one and the same thing (...).

Know that our words are not our own.  They are the faithful echo of the divine teaching authority that Jesus Christ entrusted to Peter and that from Peter through the bishops reaches down to you.  We are loving and devoted brothers and are happy to call ourselves brothers because, with fervent hearts and deep devotion, we listen to the infallible teachings of our one and only Teacher.  With God's grace, we eagerly hear his voice and give it docile and loving attention: "You are all brothers.  Your only teacher is Jesus Christ. ³⁶

"The impossibility of governing our dioceses"

Because of meddlers and scandalous controversies, I honestly confess to you that the pitiful condition of our dioceses is causing me the greatest agony of my life and torments me so much as to endanger my health..

When I went to Rome, I spoke clearly, maybe with excessive frankness, of the deplorable events happening among us and of the impossibility of governing our dioceses if that brazen faction is not reined in.  I told them that, since this faction has its leaders in Milan, it was able to reach all cities; that it was making itself untouchable, even before

the bishops, by exaggerating its attachment to the Pope, etc.  What can I tell you?  I think my words somewhat surprised the Holy Father.  I have a feeling the faction got wind of this; inde irae (hence their fury).

A few days ago, somebody told me of the nasty insinuations the Osservatore aimed at you and me and some other colleagues.  I haven't read that newspaper for two years and don't care what it thinks.  But once I get back to Piacenza, I'm going to write to the Pope about the matter and will write forcefully, and not just about myself.  My dear friend, you and I are now the targets for the arrows of these poor blind people and must resist their insane efforts.  We must be calm and keep our intentions pure, seeking only the glory of God and his Church and the welfare of souls.

Personally, I am ready not only to write but also to take a trip to Rome to make the Holy Father aware of the real state of affairs. ³⁷

The factions, which are coming up with one pretext after another so as to slowly undermine the bishops and mould Catholic public opinion according to their way of thinking, are becoming increasingly bold, to the point at times of making it impossible for the bishops to carry out their sacred ministry (...).

I who have wasted away my health and almost everything I have for the good of religion; I who refused honors, important honors with large pensions attached to them, to protest against the violated rights of the Church; I who regard as commands even the less significant leanings of the Holy See; I who have always been ready and still am, not just in words, to shed my blood for the Church and for her august Head, I am under suspicion of treason?  My God, sustain me in my difficult trial because, were this to happen, I would die of a broken heart! ³⁸

I have written to a man of influence down there and, recently, to the Pope.  I'm sending you copies of the letters so you can tell me if I have written with enough tact and if I should pursue the matter.  If the bishops did not remain silent, something good might happen by dint of talking.  By the way, what does Bishop Guindani think?  If he thinks like us, couldn't he write, too, as I did?  In the last analysis, it is a duty of our ministry to make the Pope aware of the true state of affairs, so

as to save what we can. ³⁹

The confusion of tongues is really appalling.  If things continue this way, the dioceses will become ungovernable.  Meanwhile, I think there is great need for much caution, especially for us bishops, surrounded as we are and spied upon by certain pharisees, who avidly look for every pretext to judge and put us in seeming contradiction with the Holy See.  All this causes serious harm to the episcopate and appalling scandal to the faithful.  In such a sad state of affairs, I implore God every day that he grant me and all my confreres equanimity, patience, peace, and trust in his divine help, without which we would go crazy. ⁴⁰

"We men have some sense, too"

With all my heart I share your sorrows and sufferings.  But it is necessary to be strong and carry the present tribulation with great dignity.  I am sure that in the not-too-distant future justice will be done to you.  When we get to know the censures of the Inquisition, we will say: "The mountains begot," etc., in the words of the fable, and you will be vindicated.  Mark my word.  A Church Father, St. Ambrose, I think, once wrote: "In all things I wish to follow the Church of Rome; but we men have some sense, too."  I think this is what he was trying to say: just because I am a bishop, must people impose on me as if I were a beast of burden?

Watch out for surprises: I've told you before that the goal of your adversaries is to make you give up your diocese. ⁴¹

"The episcopate must rise"

The episcopate must rise and find in its own divine authority the power to stand up to its enemies and demand the respect it deserves.  I've expressed this thought to you at other times, and I don't think I'm wrong.  If we think help will come from down there,

we're kidding ourselves.  Still, I'll try everything.  I assure you I'll speak with such force and conviction as to bend any will, provided they do not purposely act ‑- as I suspect they may ‑- in accordance with the all-too-human policies that, for some time, have been dominating the external affairs of the Church. ⁴²

"I will know how to defend my authority"

We are too outspoken and sincere, I know, but I don't think this is bad.  There is also a time to speak out.  The moment has come to do so, when and where possible and appropriate, of course, because the silence of the entire hierarchy has contributed powerfully to the increasing boldness of the new liberals.  If, somehow, God willing, they could only be stopped!  But I strongly doubt that.  I'll remember your good advice.  I'll be careful but not to the extent of being scared of anybody.  They won't ever love us, you can be sure of that. But at least they will fear us.

I feel perfectly at peace.  If down there they say something that just isn't right, I will give them an appropriate response.  I don't owe anybody anything.  I know how to defend my authority and my place with utmost vigor.  Before beginning the battle, I did a lot of thinking and weighed all the difficulties.  I'm convinced I can stand up to all the might of our adversaries.

Prudence and circumspection, yes; but, above all, courage and firmness.  I have written to the Pope along these lines, with reverence but with vigor. ⁴³