Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – On Monday, May 14, at 11 a.m, in the parish of "Regina Pacis" in Monteverde (Rome), the funeral of Father Massimo Cenci, of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME), Undersecretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples (CEP) will be celebrated, who died suddenly in the early hours of yesterday, May 11.
"He was an enthusiastic missionary of the mission," said Cardinal Fernando Filoni Cardinal, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, presented to the Holy Father Benedict XVI, the participants at the annual Assembly of the Pontifical Mission Societies, being held in Rome, who yesterday were received in audience. "He would have gladly joined us - the Cardinal said - if the Lord had not wanted to call him today." The Pontiff, in his speech, said: " My thoughts and yours in this moment goes to Father Massimo Cenci, Undersecretary, who died suddenly. May the Lord reward him for all the work he accomplished in mission and service of the Holy See "
Father Massimo Cenci was born on February 7, 1944 in Desio. He moved to France with his family until 1958. He joined the PIME in 1964, was ordained in 1975 and worked until 1978 at the missionary centre in Milan as vocational aniamator. In 1979 he began a mission in Brazil, first as assistant and from 1983 as a pastor, in Manaus. From 1981 to 1986 he taught at the Higher Institute of Philosophy, theology and pastoral care in Manaus. In 1983 he was appointed Rector of the seminary in Manaus and in 1986 responsible for the parish Meninho Jesus de Praga. With Father Giuliano Frigeni, today Bishop of Parintins, he had worked in the street pastoral care, among migrants from the north-east of Brazil. In 1996 he became secretary of the Apostolic Nuncio in Brazil. He returned to Italy in 2000, he was the spiritual father of the Urban College of Propaganda Fide. In 2001 he was appointed Undersecretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 12/5/2012)
