Italian
Reflecting on his nine years in office – marked in the middle by the Covid pandemic – the Papal Delegate highlighted how that period of forced pause generated a renewed momentum towards young people and families. In this journey, his previous parish experience proved to be fundamental: the goal is not just to offer simple hospitality, but to transform the welcome into a concrete opportunity to help pilgrims draw from the charisma and grace of the Holy House.
The Holy House thus becomes a concrete sign of welcome and evangelization: a special opportunity is offered to young people to stay inside the basilica one evening, behind closed doors, for a unique and profound moment of reflection.
Why is it reductive to talk only about the Madonna of Loreto?
To define Loreto simply as “the Sanctuary of the Madonna of Loreto” risks being reductive. Its correct title is Sanctuary of the Holy House of Mary. Here the House – as Saint John Paul II recalled – becomes an icon of truths that are not abstract, but concrete.
His Holy Walls are, first and foremost, the primordial place of the family: they refer to the real and daily dynamics of the fundamental cell of the Church and society, offering keys to understanding that are both human and theological, and extraordinarily relevant.
As highlighted by the Papal Delegate, within these walls the Virgin did not only experience the miracle of the Annunciation, but she went through the entire range of human experience: the daily fabric of spousal love with Joseph, the trial of widowhood, and the pain of losing her Son.
Of particular theological significance is the relationship between Mary and Joseph. To fulfill her unique vocation as the Mother of the Incarnate Word, the Virgin enjoyed a singular privilege (the Immaculate Conception) and a fullness of grace. However, in the providential plan, she needed to have beside her a man of the human and spiritual stature of Joseph. Their relationship was truly authentic, lived in a chaste and virginal love pushed “to the nth degree.”
In this perfect synthesis of divine grace and human cooperation, the Holy House reveals itself as a special place of grace for every vocation: both for those called to marriage and for those called to virgin and celibate consecration.
Another point of reflection that the Holy House gives us concerns the meaning of work. Within these walls, Joseph taught Jesus a trade, and the Son of God worked concretely with His own hands.
This place reminds us that work is not merely a necessity to make a living, but a space to express one’s dignity and creativity in service to the community, with passion, honesty, and dignity. To work means to extend God’s creative work. The holy House reminds us that during his thirty years spent in Nazareth in family life, Jesus dedicated most of that time to daily obedience and manual labor, fully understanding its toil. This is why work should be loved and cherished: because Christ also worked.
And here Mons. Dal Cin brought up Martha and Mary, the two sisters of Lazarus, one more inclined towards concrete life, the other more towards the contemplative. But both, with their concreteness and prayer, referred to God in their lives.
Returning to his role as papal delegate, he says he tries to draw inspiration from these two evangelical figures: Martha and Mary; seeking to combine the efficiency of material management with the heart of the evangelizing mission. It is about ensuring an accurate human welcome directed at the pilgrims and, at the same time, fostering their encounter with God through listening to the Word and in the Celebration of the Sacraments.
Coexisting with administrative and spiritual dimensions is a complex challenge, similar to what every family or workplace faces. The key lies in taking “the possible steps” every day. To best carry out this service, the Delegate concludes, two essential points are needed: a deep respect for the dignity of every person, transparency, and a heart always open to everyone.
Finally, there was a reference to his Venetian origins, in which he says that this openness he mentioned is part of a culture we have inherited regarding hospitality and solidarity.
He, originally from Sarmede, the town of fairy tales, where the International Exhibition of Illustration for Children is held, fondly remembers his fellow citizens, whom he always returns to with pleasure whenever possible.
A truly wide-ranging conversation that touched on unexpected yet substantial aspects of our faith awareness and the devotion that follows. Mons. Dal Cin, with his availability and sincerity, managed to give a cordial tone to what could have been formal and further increased my esteem and trust in him, as I hope it will be for those who share the content of this interview.
Regarding a balance on the outcomes of the jubilee, Father Fabio highlighted three relevant aspects concerning the pilgrimages. Firstly, it did not only involve organized groups, but especially families, who stayed in the Holy House in prayer and fully embraced one of the missions of this place, which is the Sanctuary of the Family. In the Holy House, the Virgin Mary lived as a wife and as a mother, giving herself entirely for her son Jesus and for her husband Joseph.
Another aspect that stands out is the strong turnout of youth groups, attracted by the many proposals offered by the Sanctuary. Initiatives that become real opportunities for young people to question the profound meaning of life and to discover in Mary the model to inspire them in responding to God’s design. The Holy House, in fact, is the dwelling that holds Mary’s “Yes,” upon which every vocation’s “yes” rests. And young people wish to stay close to the Sanctuary because this place attracts and makes them feel the grace of Mary’s maternal presence.
There has been a growing influx of non-Catholic Christian pilgrims, particularly Orthodox, who increasingly request to celebrate their divine liturgies there.
It is a profound signal that confirms and strengthens the ecumenical vocation of the Holy House of Loreto: a place of faith that transcends confessional boundaries to truly become the common home of all Christians.
Reflecting on his nine years in office – marked in the middle by the Covid pandemic – the Papal Delegate highlighted how that period of forced pause generated a renewed momentum towards young people and families. In this journey, his previous parish experience proved to be fundamental: the goal is not just to offer simple hospitality, but to transform the welcome into a concrete opportunity to help pilgrims draw from the charisma and grace of the Holy House.
The Holy House thus becomes a concrete sign of welcome and evangelization: a special opportunity is offered to young people to stay inside the basilica one evening, behind closed doors, for a unique and profound moment of reflection.
Why is it reductive to talk only about the Madonna of Loreto?
To define Loreto simply as “the Sanctuary of the Madonna of Loreto” risks being reductive. Its correct title is Sanctuary of the Holy House of Mary. Here the House – as Saint John Paul II recalled – becomes an icon of truths that are not abstract, but concrete.
His Holy Walls are, first and foremost, the primordial place of the family: they refer to the real and daily dynamics of the fundamental cell of the Church and society, offering keys to understanding that are both human and theological, and extraordinarily relevant.
As highlighted by the Papal Delegate, within these walls the Virgin did not only experience the miracle of the Annunciation, but she went through the entire range of human experience: the daily fabric of spousal love with Joseph, the trial of widowhood, and the pain of losing her Son.
Of particular theological significance is the relationship between Mary and Joseph. To fulfill her unique vocation as the Mother of the Incarnate Word, the Virgin enjoyed a singular privilege (the Immaculate Conception) and a fullness of grace. However, in the providential plan, she needed to have beside her a man of the human and spiritual stature of Joseph. Their relationship was truly authentic, lived in a chaste and virginal love pushed “to the nth degree.”
In this perfect synthesis of divine grace and human cooperation, the Holy House reveals itself as a special place of grace for every vocation: both for those called to marriage and for those called to virgin and celibate consecration.
Another point of reflection that the Holy House gives us concerns the meaning of work. Within these walls, Joseph taught Jesus a trade, and the Son of God worked concretely with His own hands.
This place reminds us that work is not merely a necessity to make a living, but a space to express one’s dignity and creativity in service to the community, with passion, honesty, and dignity. To work means to extend God’s creative work. The holy House reminds us that during his thirty years spent in Nazareth in family life, Jesus dedicated most of that time to daily obedience and manual labor, fully understanding its toil. This is why work should be loved and cherished: because Christ also worked.
And here Mons. Dal Cin brought up Martha and Mary, the two sisters of Lazarus, one more inclined towards concrete life, the other more towards the contemplative. But both, with their concreteness and prayer, referred to God in their lives.
Returning to his role as papal delegate, he says he tries to draw inspiration from these two evangelical figures: Martha and Mary; seeking to combine the efficiency of material management with the heart of the evangelizing mission. It is about ensuring an accurate human welcome directed at the pilgrims and, at the same time, fostering their encounter with God through listening to the Word and in the Celebration of the Sacraments.
Coexisting with administrative and spiritual dimensions is a complex challenge, similar to what every family or workplace faces. The key lies in taking “the possible steps” every day. To best carry out this service, the Delegate concludes, two essential points are needed: a deep respect for the dignity of every person, transparency, and a heart always open to everyone.
Finally, there was a reference to his Venetian origins, in which he says that this openness he mentioned is part of a culture we have inherited regarding hospitality and solidarity.
He, originally from Sarmede, the town of fairy tales, where the International Exhibition of Illustration for Children is held, fondly remembers his fellow citizens, whom he always returns to with pleasure whenever possible.
A truly wide-ranging conversation that touched on unexpected yet substantial aspects of our faith awareness and the devotion that follows. Mons. Dal Cin, with his availability and sincerity, managed to give a cordial tone to what could have been formal and further increased my esteem and trust in him, as I hope it will be for those who share the content of this interview.
Papal Delegate at the Holy House of Loreto
It was necessary to take stock of the spiritual effects that the last jubilee, titled “Pilgrims of Hope,” had on the faithful and pilgrims in a symbolic place like the Holy House of Loreto, which has managed to attract both celebrities and ordinary people over the centuries. This was the first suggestion for interviewing Mons. Fabio Dal Cin, Papal Delegate at this sanctuary. A unique Marian sanctuary, because its origin is not an apparition or a miraculous statue, but an extraordinary relic: the three walls of the House of Nazareth; the space where the Madonna was born, grew up, and where the Annunciation took place. More than a particular message, this place preserves the memory of the Mystery of the Incarnation and testifies to the living presence of Mary, who made her existence a “home” to welcome and “give her flesh” to the Son of God.
The occasion materialized, even though it had been scheduled right at the end of the Jubilee, during a pilgrimage of the diocese of Treviso, where the pilgrims were able to attend the celebration at 7:30, officiated by Bishop Fabio and broadcast on Rete Pace (channel 76) every morning. The mass was co-celebrated by Don Antonio Guidolin, diocesan representative for the causes of saints and for the rediscovery of the witnesses of faith of the diocese of Treviso, as well as the spiritual guide of the pilgrimage in question.
After the celebration, amidst various commitments, it was possible to meet with Don Fabio and have a fruitful conversation with him, enriched by the requested information, but also by the reflections induced by the topics discussed.
First of all, the papal delegate summarized his role as a service: “I try to be a priest by doing my best with simplicity, knowing that I am just an instrument in God’s hands. The true protagonists are the grace and the good that flow through us; our only task is to commit ourselves to doing well the good that we are asked to do.”
Regarding a balance on the outcomes of the jubilee, Father Fabio highlighted three relevant aspects concerning the pilgrimages. Firstly, it did not only involve organized groups, but especially families, who stayed in the Holy House in prayer and fully embraced one of the missions of this place, which is the Sanctuary of the Family. In the Holy House, the Virgin Mary lived as a wife and as a mother, giving herself entirely for her son Jesus and for her husband Joseph.
Another aspect that stands out is the strong turnout of youth groups, attracted by the many proposals offered by the Sanctuary. Initiatives that become real opportunities for young people to question the profound meaning of life and to discover in Mary the model to inspire them in responding to God’s design. The Holy House, in fact, is the dwelling that holds Mary’s “Yes,” upon which every vocation’s “yes” rests. And young people wish to stay close to the Sanctuary because this place attracts and makes them feel the grace of Mary’s maternal presence.
There has been a growing influx of non-Catholic Christian pilgrims, particularly Orthodox, who increasingly request to celebrate their divine liturgies there.
It is a profound signal that confirms and strengthens the ecumenical vocation of the Holy House of Loreto: a place of faith that transcends confessional boundaries to truly become the common home of all Christians.
Reflecting on his nine years in office – marked in the middle by the Covid pandemic – the Papal Delegate highlighted how that period of forced pause generated a renewed momentum towards young people and families. In this journey, his previous parish experience proved to be fundamental: the goal is not just to offer simple hospitality, but to transform the welcome into a concrete opportunity to help pilgrims draw from the charisma and grace of the Holy House.
The Holy House thus becomes a concrete sign of welcome and evangelization: a special opportunity is offered to young people to stay inside the basilica one evening, behind closed doors, for a unique and profound moment of reflection.
Why is it reductive to talk only about the Madonna of Loreto?
To define Loreto simply as “the Sanctuary of the Madonna of Loreto” risks being reductive. Its correct title is Sanctuary of the Holy House of Mary. Here the House – as Saint John Paul II recalled – becomes an icon of truths that are not abstract, but concrete.
His Holy Walls are, first and foremost, the primordial place of the family: they refer to the real and daily dynamics of the fundamental cell of the Church and society, offering keys to understanding that are both human and theological, and extraordinarily relevant.
As highlighted by the Papal Delegate, within these walls the Virgin did not only experience the miracle of the Annunciation, but she went through the entire range of human experience: the daily fabric of spousal love with Joseph, the trial of widowhood, and the pain of losing her Son.
Of particular theological significance is the relationship between Mary and Joseph. To fulfill her unique vocation as the Mother of the Incarnate Word, the Virgin enjoyed a singular privilege (the Immaculate Conception) and a fullness of grace. However, in the providential plan, she needed to have beside her a man of the human and spiritual stature of Joseph. Their relationship was truly authentic, lived in a chaste and virginal love pushed “to the nth degree.”
In this perfect synthesis of divine grace and human cooperation, the Holy House reveals itself as a special place of grace for every vocation: both for those called to marriage and for those called to virgin and celibate consecration.
Another point of reflection that the Holy House gives us concerns the meaning of work. Within these walls, Joseph taught Jesus a trade, and the Son of God worked concretely with His own hands.
This place reminds us that work is not merely a necessity to make a living, but a space to express one’s dignity and creativity in service to the community, with passion, honesty, and dignity. To work means to extend God’s creative work. The holy House reminds us that during his thirty years spent in Nazareth in family life, Jesus dedicated most of that time to daily obedience and manual labor, fully understanding its toil. This is why work should be loved and cherished: because Christ also worked.
And here Mons. Dal Cin brought up Martha and Mary, the two sisters of Lazarus, one more inclined towards concrete life, the other more towards the contemplative. But both, with their concreteness and prayer, referred to God in their lives.
Returning to his role as papal delegate, he says he tries to draw inspiration from these two evangelical figures: Martha and Mary; seeking to combine the efficiency of material management with the heart of the evangelizing mission. It is about ensuring an accurate human welcome directed at the pilgrims and, at the same time, fostering their encounter with God through listening to the Word and in the Celebration of the Sacraments.
Coexisting with administrative and spiritual dimensions is a complex challenge, similar to what every family or workplace faces. The key lies in taking “the possible steps” every day. To best carry out this service, the Delegate concludes, two essential points are needed: a deep respect for the dignity of every person, transparency, and a heart always open to everyone.
Finally, there was a reference to his Venetian origins, in which he says that this openness he mentioned is part of a culture we have inherited regarding hospitality and solidarity.
He, originally from Sarmede, the town of fairy tales, where the International Exhibition of Illustration for Children is held, fondly remembers his fellow citizens, whom he always returns to with pleasure whenever possible.
A truly wide-ranging conversation that touched on unexpected yet substantial aspects of our faith awareness and the devotion that follows. Mons. Dal Cin, with his availability and sincerity, managed to give a cordial tone to what could have been formal and further increased my esteem and trust in him, as I hope it will be for those who share the content of this interview.
