Bertonefest '07 Continues

Seems somebody forgot to tell the Secretary of State that no soccer matches were taking place during the Supreme Convention.

Mirroring his boss, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone SDB did some ad-libbing yesterday in Nashville, promising his personal commitment to the canonization of the Knights of Columbus' founder, Fr Michael McGivney:

"I hope this recognition (of sanctity) will arrive soon, and I'll personally work on [McGivney's cause], so that this day will come soon," Cardinal Bertone said....

Cardinal Bertone's comments on the sainthood cause of Father McGivney were met with applause from the Knights attending the Mass.

"I was thrilled," Bishop William E. Lori of Bridgeport, Conn., the supreme chaplain of the Knights of Columbus, said of Cardinal Bertone's comments.

"I think he appreciates what it would mean for parish priests in the United States and around the world, to have one of their own canonized a saint," Bishop Lori said in an interview on Eternal Word Television Network, which was broadcasting several events from the convention.

Father McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus at St. Mary's Church in New Haven, Conn., in 1882. The fraternal order for Catholic men has grown to become the largest lay Catholic organization in the world with more than 1.7 million members around the globe....

...and more from the local Tennesseean:

Bishop David R. Choby, of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Nashville, said Bertone is the highest-ranking Catholic official ever to come to Tennessee.

"For him to be here in Nashville is a great honor and a wonderful reminder of what Catholic means," Choby said. "It means universal."

In addition to Bertone, the convention brings about 100 bishops, archbishops and cardinals from around the world.

There also are nearly 3,000 Knights of Columbus members and their families in attendance. Knights of Columbus membership is limited to Catholic men age 18 or older.

The convention began Tuesday and will run through Thursday at Opryland. A dinner will be held in Bertone's honor tonight, and he will give the keynote address.

It is the first time Nashville has hosted the convention and the second time that it has been held in Tennessee. The 1942 convention was held in Memphis.

Knights of Columbus member Ed Perez came all the way from the state of Washington to meet with his peers and see Bertone.

"It was a real big blessing," he said.

On deck today for the Vatican's second-in-command: an afternoon press conference, and -- appropriately on this feast of St Dominic -- a visit to the convent of the ever-growing Nashville Dominicans. A "major" evening speech is also scheduled.

Stay tuned.


PHOTO: Knights of Columbus

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