Vatican City, Dec 20, 2007 / 08:36 am
Young people from Italian Catholic Action (ACI) were received by Pope Benedict for a traditional exchange of Christmas good wishes. In his address to them, the Pontiff recalled the heroic virtue of Antonia Meo and asked that the group stay committed to the path to Christ.
After greeting Luigi Alici, national president of ACI, and Bishop Domenico Sigalini of Palestrina, Italy, the group's general ecclesiastical assistant, the Pope began his remarks by mentioning the Italian child Antonia Meo, whose heroic virtues were promulgated recently by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.
Born in 1930, Antonia, known as Nennolina, died of bone cancer in 1937 shortly before her seventh birthday. The Holy Father recalled how she "showed special faith, hope and charity" and, presenting her as a model for the young people of ACI (of which she was a member), he affirmed that "her existence, so simple and yet so important, shows that sanctity is for all ages: for babies and for young people, for adults and for the elderly."
"She traveled quickly down the 'highway' that leads to Jesus ... Who is, in fact, the true 'path' that leads to the Father, and to His and our definitive home which is heaven,” said the Holy Father.