Vatican City, Aug 6, 2011 / 13:32 pm
Catholics in Rome paid tribute to Pope Paul VI who died 33 years ago today on August 6 1978, after holding the office of the papacy for 15 years.
“Paul VI built his spirituality on the Eucharist both celebrated and adored,” said Archbishop Giampaolo Crepaldi of Trieste at a Mass held in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome this evening.
“Every Sunday afternoon, when not engaged in apostolic travel or a visit to a Roman parish, was spent in his chapel – made dear by works by artists he knew and appreciated – in front of the tabernacle, where in long and prayerful worship, he would entrust the problems and solutions for the spiritual and pastoral renewal of the Church to the Eucharistic Christ,” the archbishop recalled.
Pope Paul VI was born Giovanni Montini in the village of Concesio in the province of Brescia in northern Italy. His father was member of the Italian parliament while his mother hailed from a family of rural nobility.