Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Ayacucho (Agenzia Fides) – This coming Monday, July 20, at 10:00am, there will be a Solemn Mass held in the Cathedral of Huamanga, presided by the Pontifical Legate of Pope Benedict XVI, Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani Thorne, Archbishop of Lima, for the celebrations for the 400th anniversary of the Diocese of Ayacucho. The program for the main date for the 400th anniversary of the Diocese's creation will also include a Choral Performance at 6pm (Monday) and Vespers for the close of the 400th anniversary on Sunday, July 19.
The Holy Father Benedict XVI sent a letter to Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani Thorne, in which he appointed him Special Envoy for this ecclesiastical celebration. In the letter, which is dated May 25, he points out how “in the past, the message of the Gospel was brought to these people and the Lord's saving benefits were administered to them, thanks to the diligent work of missionaries. Having been dispersed, that spiritual seed soon grew strong and bore abundant fruits.” Thus, the Pope considered it fitting the fact that this 400th anniversary of their evangelization be “adequately commemorated and exalted with such a title.” Furthermore, this celebration presents an opportunity to “inspire in Ayacuchans an authentic religion that is much more fervent, a firm faith, and firmer resolutions to imitate the example of the ancient inhabitants of this land.” The Holy Father later expressed his desire that “this vineyard of the Lord, inspired by the strength of that time, be blessed with abundant fruits and that these days may be filled with joy, peace, and prosperity.”
The Pope then names Cardinal Cipriani as his Representative, as those places “are completely familiar” to him and he has “clearly known the soul and life of these people.”
The members of the mission who will accompany Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani in the celebrations are: Fr. Javier Obon Molinos, Vicar General of the Archdiocese and Fr. Jorge Villaran Mendoza, SI, President of the Archdiocesan Commission for the Consecrated Life (CONFER-Ayacucho).
Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani Thorne, before he was appointed by Pope John Paul II as Archbishop of Lima, was Archbishop of Ayacucho and Apostolic Administrator between 1988 and 1999. There he carried out a fruitful pastoral labor, restored churches, reopened the Seminary of Huamanga, and helped the poorest of the poor, especially women and orphans, as well as victims of terrorism and other activities.
The Archdiocese of Ayacucho, with a little over half a million inhabitants was erected on July 20, 1609 by Paul V. It was raised to Archdiocese on June 30, 1966 by Pope Paul VI. Its current Archbishop is Archbishop Luis Abilio Sebastiani Aguirre, SM. The Diocese has been celebrating its 400th anniversary with a “Great Jubilee Mission 2009.” (RG) (Agenzia Fides 17/7/2009)
