Cardinal Angelo Acerbi Takes Possession of Santi Angeli Custodi Parish
The parish of Santi Angeli Custodi in Rome, entrusted for more than a century to the pastoral care of the Clerics Regular Minor (Padri Caracciolini), welcomed a historic event on Thursday afternoon. Cardinal Angelo Acerbi, recently turned 100 years old, officially took possession of the church assigned to him as his titular parish.
The liturgy, celebrated on the feast of the Guardian Angels and coinciding with the cardinal’s name day, drew a large congregation of parishioners, religious, and friends. Cardinal Acerbi entered the church in procession, blessing the faithful, before presiding at the Eucharist with remarkable strength and serenity for his age.
During the Mass, Father Joby Emmanuel, CRM, parish priest, greeted the new titular cardinal and thanked him for his example of quiet peace: “Your serenity speaks to the heart,” he noted. In his homily, Cardinal Acerbi reflected on the biblical image of the angel who guards God’s people: “The Angel helps us hear the voice of God. When we are docile to this inner voice, we are led step by step into deeper union with the Lord.” At the end, he led the congregation in the childhood prayer Angel of God, a gesture that drew warm participation from the assembly.
The celebration was animated by the parish choir and the presence of local scout groups, underscoring the vibrant life of the parish community under the guidance of the Caracciolini Fathers.
A Century of Service
Born in 1925 in Sesta Godano (La Spezia), Angelo Acerbi was ordained priest in 1948 and soon entered the Holy See’s diplomatic service. Over the decades he served in several countries, notably as nuncio in Colombia—where he endured captivity during guerrilla unrest—before further postings in Europe and Oceania. From 2001 to 2015 he was Prelate of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. Pope Francis created him cardinal on December 7, 2024, making him today the senior member of the College of Cardinals.
For the community of Santi Angeli Custodi, his official possession of the titular church is not only a recognition of his long service to the universal Church, but also a moment of joy and prayer for the parish’s ongoing mission in the heart of Rome.
Courtesy of original reporting by Paweł Rytel-Andrianik, Vatican News. Full article available at: Vatican News.