Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga presides over Eucharistic concelebration to mark his farewell and the beginning of the presidency of Sr. Raffaella Petrini

In continuity and harmony, at the service of the Successor of Peter

Sometimes words alone are not enough to express what one feels within, when one’s service to the Pope, to the Hoy See and to the Governorate ends, after 53 years. The farewell becomes imbued with feelings, memories and affection, as occurred during the farewell ceremony of Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State and President of the Governorate, until 28 February. Having completed his 80th birthday, he wished to step down by celebrating Holy Mass on Monday morning, 3 March, in the Church of Mary, Mother of the Family.

In the same way, words are not enough to congratulate and encourage Sr. Raffaella Petrini, who officially took over the Cardinal’s mandate as President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State and President of the Governorate, on 1 March.

With a journey that spanned 17 years, the Cardinal served first as Director, then as Secretary General and finally, as President, at the helm of a multifaceted reality as Vatican City State. The passing on of the mandate to Sr. Petrini does not constitute a farewell, but rather the beginning of a new leg in the journey, not just personally, but also institutionally.

Before hundreds of employees (so many that the Church could not accommodate them all), including Secretary General, Mr. Giuseppe Puglisi-Alibrandi, Directors, Deputy Directors, Office Managers and staff, the Cardinal promised that he will carry each one in his heart and remember them in his prayers. Leaving behind a tangible sign of his service at the Governorate, he donated a chasuble made by the Benedictine nuns of the Abbey of Saint Scholastica in Argentina for his episcopal ordination, to the sacristy of the Church of Mary, Mother of the Family.

At the end of Mass, Sr. Petrini addressed a brief greeting to the Cardinal (see below).

The following concelebrated with the Cardinal: Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, Almoner of the Holy Father, Archbishop Giordano Piccinotti, President of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Holy See, Bishop Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo and Bishop Carlos Malfa, chaplains of various Directorates of the Governorate, and Fr. Franco Fontana, Coordinator of the Chaplains of the Directorates and Central Offices.

The following is the homily of Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga:

Dear Sr. Raffaella,

Dear Giuseppe Puglisi-Alibrandi,

Dear Directors, Deputy Directors, Office Managers and all you employees of the Governorate,

I decided to take my leave as President of the Governorate with a Eucharistic concelebration and, at the same time, to also celebrate the beginning of the mission that the Holy Father entrusted to Sr. Raffaella Petrini, as President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State and President of the Governorate. I greet the new secretaries general, Archbishop Emilio Nappa and the lawyer, Mr. Giuseppe Puglisi-Alibrandi, whom you are already acquainted with. This is because what nourishes and makes fruitful our working community is the Lord. The Body of Christ draws its strength and raison d’être in the Eucharist. This is even more true for us who are directly at the service of the Successor of Peter. We are called to live our professional lives in a reality whose function is to help carry out the Petrine ministry, and to bind ourselves ever more to Christ, precisely to better serve in this mission.

“Apart from me you can do nothing.”, John says in his Gospel (15:5). The need to entrust ourselves entirely to him is present throughout Scriptures. We have just heard the reading from the Gospel of Mark, in which Jesus invites a rich man, with the words, “come, follow me”. These same words are addressed to each one of us, especially during this Holy Year of the Jubilee.                     

We often experience situations in which there are obstacles to following Jesus. In the case of the rich man, it was wealth itself that prevented him from following the Teacher. It was like a burden that slowed him down. We all have something that burdens our journey, a wealth that is not necessarily made of material things, but of many things to which we are attached. Shows, readings, habits that prevent us from being open to listening to the Word of God and to following it. Yet Jesus wants us to be free, not dependent on something that harms our dignity. The Gospel’s message is clear: true wealth is not of the world and can only be found by following Jesus. This detachment is obviously not easy, but we are not alone. The Lord is always beside his children. If we were to have to rely on our strength alone, it would be an impossible endeavour, but we can count on God’s love. Jesus turned to the rich man by gazing upon him and loving him, as the evangelist Mark says. He did not speak to him to make him poorer, but rather out of affection and love, and to make him truly happy.

This person did not trust the Lord and did not believe in his love. He thought it was impossible to find happiness by leaving behind all he possessed and live only for Jesus. His lack of faith led him to no longer know how to listen to the Word of the Lord and to no longer be able to perceive his love. It is a risk that we too may encounter and which we should avoid. The proper attitude of a Christian is one of gratitude to God for all the gifts he grants us.

The Jubilee we are currently celebrating will help us to keep the flame of hope we were given alive and to do all we can to ensure that each one can find again the strength and certainty to look to the future with an open and trusting heart and a farsighted mind, in the certainty of the Lord’s love. This Holy Year filled with hope and God’s mercy, should lead us to a complete conversion of heart.

As I mentioned at the beginning, today there are other reasons for which to be grateful to the Lord and to Pope Francis. For me in particular, for the years I was at the service of the Holy See and of the Governorate. I began my service on 1 August 1972, at the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, where I met a person to whom I remained close throughout my entire life. He was and is a father and teacher to me: Blessed Cardinal Eduardo Francisco Pironio. I followed him in April 1984, when Blessed Cardinal Pironio was appointed President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, and served as his secretary for 23 years, until his death on 5 February 1998.

I was appointed Office Manager of the Internet Office of the Holy See in 2004. I began my service at the Governorate on 10 January 2008, when I was appointed Director of the Directorate of Telecommunications of Vatican City State. Then, on 30 August 2013, Pope Francis appointed me Secretary General, and on 8 September 2021, President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State and President of the Governorate. I thank Pope Francis for his trust and the help he has always given me throughout these years. Today, I cannot but sing the Magnificat of Our Lady, with him.

I have thus spent almost 17 years at the Governorate, and for this, I thank the Pontiffs who trusted me and I thank all of you for your friendship, your professionalism, your dedication and your work. Your collaboration has been fundamental for the journey we have undertaken to date. I would have been unable to do anything without you. Your presence here gives me an opportunity to express my gratitude to you for your service. I especially thank Cardinal Bertello, my predecessor, from whom I learned much during my service to the Church.

Throughout these years, many people have succeeded one another in the various offices and Directorates. Today it is my turn. As my departure becomes effective, I am pleased that we are gathered here, to accompany you towards this new leg that is beginning. I leave you in the excellent hands of Sr. Raffaella. The new President will know how to lead you to make the Governorate increasingly more in harmony with Pope Francis’ Magisterium and his indications. It is a great joy for me, that my successor is Sr. Raffaella Petrini, for which I thank the Lord and Pope Francis, For almost four years, we have worked together in complete harmony and cooperation, and mostly, united in the mission entrusted to us by the Holy Father, at the service of the Church.

Now that emotions over my departure have subsided, I would like to tell you what an honour it has been to have you close throughout these years. On many occasions, I was able to appreciate your competence, your solidarity and your enthusiasm.

I thank you from my heart for your generosity, the heartfelt words that you addressed to me and your presence. They will accompany me and will always remind me of my privilege: that of having worked with you, and having shared so many things in our personal and professional lives.

I entrust each of you, your families and your loved ones to the motherly intercession of Mary and I invoke the Blessing of the Lord upon you.

The following is Sr. Raffaella Petrini’s greeting:

Your Eminence,

I think that the presence here today of so many who wished to join us for this holy Mass of thanksgiving is a tangible sign of the affection with which the employees of the Governorate wish to say goodbye to you, at the conclusion of your mandate as President and as we celebrate the Jubilee Year of Hope.

We are here, with hearts filled with gratitude for having had the honour and the pleasure of contributing to your service in these years. And it certainly was a service, because you lived it as such, and showed each of us how to carry on the demanding work here, in the Vatican, especially in the Governorate: a service you carried out with generosity and passion for the Church and the Holy Father, who we remember with affection these days in particular.

We know that Blessed Cardinal Eduardo Francisco Pironio was your teacher in this journey. But you were able to enrich all the tasks entrusted to you throughout the years by the Holy Father with your humanity, your professional skills and your fidelity. Along with Mr. Giuseppe Puglisi-Alibrandi and your closest collaborators, I have had the opportunity to appreciate your wisdom, determination, sensitivity and attention for the working community entrusted to you, in every decision made together during this time. Those who are here today know this well. You carried out your ministry as Pastor and guide to us, day by day, paternally caring for the family of the Governorate, which you will always be a part of. We have learned and received much from you.

We know that you will carry with you, all the affection being demonstrated to you today. We will continue to pray for you, and also, why not, to continue to draw from your experience and wisdom, since you will be staying with us at the Vatican. We know that you will not stop being close to us.

I thank you personally for this “passing of the baton” of the Presidency of the Governorate, which the Holy Father encouraged precisely to ensure continuity, to try to carry on what was built together. And allow me to use a Franciscan image – to make the seeds that you sewed, sprout. You paved the way for all of us. Despite inevitable difficulties, we pray that we will be able to continue the journey you indicated, with the same passion and the same fidelity. May the Lord Bless you and keep you. Thank you, your Eminence.