At Castel Gandolfo, a Day of Fraternity for the Postal and Philatelic Service of the Governorate

Reflecting the Light of the One Who Gives

Storing up treasures in heaven — that is, by giving — in such a way as to reflect light and not the darkness that saddens.
This was the message of Archbishop Emilio Nappa, Secretary General, as he presided over the Eucharistic concelebration on the morning of Friday, June 20, at the Pontifical Parish of Saint Thomas of Villanova in Castel Gandolfo.

It was the culminating moment of a day of fraternity organized by the Postal and Philatelic Service of the Directorate of Telecommunications and Information Systems of the Governorate, held at the Pontifical Villas. A day of sharing and friendship in a location particularly connected to the Popes.

Concelebrating with the Archbishop were Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, President Emeritus of the Governorate of Vatican City State and Director of Telecommunications until 2021; Father Gabriele Gionti, Deputy Director of the Vatican Observatory; Father Felice Bruno, Head of the Postal and Philatelic Service; and Father Matteo Galaverni.

Among those present were Sr. Raffaella Petrini and Atty. Giuseppe Puglisi-Alibrandi, respectively President and Secretary General of the Governorate, Andrea Tamburelli, Director of the Pontifical Villas, and Antonino Intersimone, Director of Telecommunications and Information Systems.

Earlier, employees together with department heads and government officials visited the Apostolic Palace and the Garden of the Moor, including areas not normally open to the public, as well as the Vatican Observatory.          

Below is the homily by Archbishop Emilio Nappa:

The occasion that brings us together today is a day of fraternity, marked by sharing and friendship that, for us, is naturally rooted in the Lord — especially considering the work we do every day for Holy Mother Church. For this reason, allow me to thank the Directorate of Telecommunications and Information Systems and Father Felice for this opportunity. Whenever we come together to strengthen our working and fraternal community, it is always a great thing. And the Governorate is special in this regard, as it cares deeply about the well-being and humanity of both its employees and its leaders.

A few reflections on the Word of God we have just heard.
The Letter to the Corinthians is the second one written by Saint Paul — now elderly and weary — to this community he himself had founded. He had suffered greatly: imprisoned, worn out by exhausting journeys, persecuted and tortured. At first glance, it might seem that he is experiencing an identity crisis or competing with others; but more likely, he is disheartened by those who initially take the Gospel seriously, only to return to their pagan habits, or turn to other beliefs because they lack moral resilience or good and exemplary companions on their journey. Corinth, being a port city, was especially exposed to all sorts of immoral temptations, disordered affections, and attachments to worldly things. Paul, for his part, is being challenged by other prophets and teachers of strange doctrines. So he feels the need to define his identity: a Jew, descendant of Abraham, minister of Christ.

What stands out to me is this: confrontation with difference or opposition almost forces him to reaffirm or clarify his own identity. Often in adversity, we waste so much energy fighting (hopefully in non-violent ways) with those who oppose us. But the authentic Christian turns those moments into occasions for self-examination — for renewed self-awareness and conversion, for personal growth.

In the Gospel, too, we find this relationship with the world and others as a means of defining one’s identity. Jesus forces each of us to confront both heaven and earth. Man is caught in between, and what defines him cannot be something perishable, because his heart is open to the infinite — never fully satisfied in its desire to seek, to know, to love, and to be loved. So the Master shows us the way and the means: yes, we should look at the perishable things, but they cannot satisfy us. They leave us in darkness (they do not give us authentic joy and freedom). If our gaze is fixed on them, our heart can only be misled into thinking it finds peace, when in fact it is being numbed.

The invitation instead is to store up treasures in heaven, that is, by giving — as specified in other passages. Then yes: whoever looks at us will see the light shining from us, and not the darkness that possesses and saddens us. Generous people are typically radiant; they are not afraid to speak or act to help, to correct, to plan, or to take risks. In contrast, those who calculate and withhold gestures for small, self-centered projects often cannot even give a smile. They tend to be gloomy and sullen, cloaked in a seriousness that betrays a dry and uninspired way of relating to others.

This is what it means when Scripture says: if your eye is bad, your whole body is in darkness, and your light becomes darkness. We even say it ourselves — about serene people, we say: “She’s a bright, clear, peaceful, and transparent person — radiant.”

So today, let us look at ourselves (inwardly and among one another) with the eyes of faith.
Pierre Rousselot, a French theologian who died young, once wrote a theological essay entitled The Eyes of Faith, touching on the categories of the intellect. His idea is that faith gives us ways of understanding reality that go beyond normal human reasoning. Faith allows us to live the full potential of our relationships in the blessedness of mutual respect.

This is what we ask for this morning in the Holy Mass, along with peace — which is a conditio sine qua non for people to express themselves and be truly happy.

May Mary, Salus Populi Romani, guide and protect us…