The 96-year-old Argentine Capuchin friar will be appointed cardinal by Pope Francis in the consistory on September 30. He shares his emotions with the Vatican media after receiving the message announced by the Pope at the Angelus prayer and recounts his long experience in the confessional. Then the encouragement in these difficult times for the Church and the world: “Never discourage, never pessimism, the Lord is always with us”
Sebastián Sanson Ferrari – Vatican City
“It was a great surprise.” This is how Brother Luis Pascual Dri, an Argentine Capuchin, comments on Pope Francis’ decision to nominate him cardinal in the consistory of September 30, announced last Sunday at the Angelus prayer. The 96-year-old religious was the confessor of Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who referred to him as Pope on several occasions.
An acquaintance of many years with Francesco
The religious answers questions for Vatican News from the Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii in Buenos Aires, where he administers the Sacrament of Reconciliation several hours a day. for years. “It doesn’t make any difference to me,” he says, referring to the fact that the Pope has included him among the 21 new cardinals. When Francis made his announcement at the end of the Angelus prayer on Sunday, July 9, Dri was about to go to confession and was deeply moved. “Now I’m calmer,” he says. Although the Pope was an old acquaintance, he never imagined that Francis would entrust him with this new mission. He says he is eternally grateful to the pope and considers the gesture “a delicacy.” Soon, he is confident, he will contact the Pope personally to express his thanks.
A life dedicated to the Sacrament of Reconciliation
In his service to the Church, Father Luis has always been fascinated by confession. “The first thing is to realize that I am just as much a sinner as whoever approaches me,” he says. For him it is a “great joy” to welcome people who are suffering greatly and are overwhelmed by many problems, to be able to offer relief and to be able to say: “In the name of the Lord I acquit you”. The future cardinal invites us , to remind us that Jesus Christ created us through forgiveness alone with His grace, and sends a message of encouragement to all: “Go forward! Rejoice without fear, without fear.” He reveals to us that he is “very happy” when he can do “a little bit more” for those who suffer. “It is a way of finding peace, the happiness of life.” From his wheelchair, he humbly accepts Francis’ call. “The Pope knows my limits,” he says, underlining that he is ready to do whatever comes his way, asked and by whomever will continue to give himself wholeheartedly, “with my whole city and leave no one outside the Church”.
Never get discouraged because God is always close to us
The Capuchin recalls his pastoral time in Uruguay, during which he served as an educator at Secco Illa College and High School, among other activities, and says that to this day he still receives greetings from his students and rejoices over the years he has been with them has spent. He assures that it was always about respect for people and not about imposing fixed rules. “Maybe they’re older, they’re grandparents, they’re employed,” he says, speaking of his former students. “They write to me and thank them for this time.” Finally. In a fatherly and serene voice, the religious left a few words of hope to the listeners of Vatican Radio. In these difficult times, in the Church, in politics, in culture, in health, we must entrust ourselves to Jesus and Mary so that they listen to us and accompany us: “Never discourage, never pessimism, never despair, because the Lord is there and promised us: “I will be with you until the end of time.”