Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga and Sr. Raffaella Petrini, President and Secretary General of the Governorate, respectively, met with a high-level delegation of the Customs and Monopolies Agency, led by the Director of the Agency, Councillor Roberto Alesse, on Wednesday morning, 30 October, at the Palace of the Governorate. Among the themes addressed during the meeting, were cooperation and future projects to maximize efficiency and quick customs checks, aimed at ensuring the correct transit of goods and the security of citizens, in view of the approaching Jubilee year.
Forty years ago, the Holy See and the United States of America began diplomatic relations. The Governorate of Vatican City State will issue a stamp by the Post and Philately Service of the Directorate of Telecommunications and Information Systems, to commemorate the anniversary.
Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, President of the Governorate of Vatican City State, and H.E. Ms. María Isabel Celaá Diéguez, Ambassador of Spain to the Holy See, will inaugurate an exhibition titled, “Bernini’s Souls” at the Pinacoteca of the Vatican Museums on Tuesday, 19 November.
The Christmas atmosphere has also reached the Pontifical Palace of Castel Gandolfo, brightening it up with the climate of the season’s festivities. as indicated by a series of events that took place on Tuesday morning, 10 December, including the inauguration of a nativity scene and the lighting of a Christmas tree.
Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga and Sr. Raffaella Petrini, respectively, President and Secretary General of the Governorate of Vatican City State, will inaugurate the Nativity Scene and light the Christmas tree, that will be on display in Saint Peter’s Square throughout the Christmas season. The inauguration ceremony will take place at 6:30 p.m., on 7 December.
Art, culture and the Jubilee can be opportunities for solidarity and support to people affected by natural disasters, like the DANA storm system that struck Valencia. The exhibition titled, “Bernini’s Souls”, which was inaugurated on Tuesday afternoon, 19 November, at the Vatican Museums, by Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, President of the Governorate of Vatican City State, and by H.E. Ms. Maria María Isabel Celaá Diéguez, Ambassador of Spain to the Holy See, is an expression of the close relationship between artistic masterpieces and charity. In his address, Cardinal Vérgez Alzaga expressed his sympathy to those affected by the “disastrous DANA storm system of 29 October, which devasted the Region of Valencia and other regions in Spain, last week, including Malaga and Granada”, and ensured his prayers for the victims.
Christmas music, melodies and lights brightened the darkness of the night. The much-anticipated moment has arrived, when people can admire the nativity scene and see the Christmas tree lights in Saint Peter’s Square. Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga and Sr. Raffaella Petrini, respectively, President and Secretary General, of the Governorate of Vatican City State, inaugurated the nativity scene from Grado and lit the 29-metre red fir Christmas tree, from Ledro, during a ceremony on Saturday evening, 7 December before a crowd of people.