April 17, 2013
Oreste Basso, a focolarino, one of the closest collaborators of Chiara Lubich since the 50’s, passed away peacefully at the age of 91 during the night of April 14. He carried out tasks of great responsability in the running of the Focolare Movement. Ordained priest in 1981, he considered his ministry as a service and a calling to a greater love.
He was elected Co-president of the Movement in 1996, and he exerted a fundamental role at the time when the foundress passed away on March 14, 2008 and during the General Assembly which followed in July 2008, when a new president had to be elected. This assembly was the first of its kind for the Focolare Movement.
The heartfelt message sent by Pope Francis, through the Secretariat of State, to Maria Voce, the president of the Movement, recalls «the generous ecclesial service of such a zealous priest, who knew how to give himself completely to the joyous proclamation of the Gospel and the diligent witness of charity».
Even the Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone and Cardinal Rylko, President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity sent messages to express their condolences.
Numerous messages, that pour in to the Focolare Centre from places all over the world, express deep gratitude for Oreste Basso’s tireless work to serve the Church, in the Movement, and for his limpid evangelical life.
The funeral was held on Monday April 15 at the international Centre of the Focolare Movement at Rocca di Papa,Rome.
Updated on April, 18th 2013
UF
SIF – Focolare Information Service
