The appointment of Don Mimmo Battaglia as cardinal by Pope Francis aroused emotion and profound reflections among institutional representatives, including Wanda Ferrowho wanted to express his enthusiasm and admiration for the Calabrian priest.
Ferro described Don Mimmo as a figure of extraordinary humanity and commitment, capable of giving dignity and hope to marginalized people. His dedication to the most difficult causes – poverty, addictions and social hardship – represents for Ferro an example of how the Church can and must be close to the periphery, not only geographically, but above all existential. The nomination as cardinal, according to Ferro, is the recognition of a life dedicated to putting those who often remain on the margins at the center of attention.
Ferro underlined how Don Mimmo was able, through his work and his example, to give voice to those who suffer and transform the need for love and redemption into a concrete commitment. The hope, he added, is that this nomination is an invitation to follow the path traced by Don Mimmo, made of love and solidarity, and to translate joy and pride into concrete actions for the common good.
A message that recalls the values of redemption and hope, embodied by a man who made his vocation a mission in favor of the most vulnerable.