The visit to Kosovo of the ordinary military archbishop for Italy ended. Monsignor Santo Marcianò spent Christmas with the Italian soldiers employed in the Kosovo Force mission (KFOR). Arrived in Pristina, yesterday he was welcomed by the commander of the NATO Multinational Force KFOR, division general Guglielmo Luigi Miglietta.
Monsignor Marcianò then moved to Pec, at the headquarters of the Multinational Battle Group West (MNBG-W), an Italian-led multinational command, where it met the Italian contingent's soldiers to whom it sent Christmas wishes and witnessed the work and value of their mission in Kosovo.
In the afternoon the military ordinary paid a visit to the family home of the "Caritas Umbria" of Klina, donating clothing and toys made available by the Caritas Umbria and from the 4th chariot regiment of Persano. Since the first years after the conflict, this structure has been involved in the reception of numerous Kosovar children without distinction of ethnicity or religion and supports an important educational project in favor of minors coming from serious situations of hardship or family degradation.
Returning to the base of "Villaggio Italia", Monsignor Marcianò attended the Christmas dinner and celebrated Mass together with the chaplain of the contingent Don Fausto Amantea.
The religious function was preceded by the rite of opening the Holy Door in the church of Camp "Villaggio Italia" named after San Francesco as a symbolic gesture that is part of the extraordinary jubilee year.
Today, on Christmas day, Monsignor Marcianò celebrated the religious service in Pristina, in the chapel of the base of the Multinational Specialized Unit, for the Italian military personnel of all the Armed Forces and of the Carabinieri.
During the homily, Monsignor Marcianò underlined the importance and significance of the values linked to the celebration of Christmas: "Living life for others gives meaning to one's own", and then, turning to the military who spend this holiday far from their own affected, "You with your presence in Kosovo, putting your lives at risk, allow others to live".
At the end of the function, the commander of KFOR, general Miglietta, thanked the military ordinary, the head of the EULEX mission, Gabirele Meucci and the Italian ambassador in Kosovo, Andreas Ferrarese, present at the event.
"For the soldier, being in operations is an extraordinary but not abnormal condition as it represents the pinnacle of the service he offers his country in the world. Professionalism and a sense of humanity are the most recognized and appreciated heritage, even in the Italian soldier in the Balkans, where our men and women with stars alternate to create a better future for the people of Kosovo".
