"I wish, with all the Bishops, to announce the Christian hope to today’s world, as emerged from the Ecclesial Meeting of Verona". These are the words of the archbishop of Genoa, mgr. Angelo Bagnasco, who has been appointed today by Benedict XVI president of Cei (Italian Bishops Conference), after card. Camillo Ruini had handed in his waiver, having reached the retirement age. Mgr. Bagnasco, who will keep his position as archbishop of Genoa, after expressing his deep gratitude to the Pope "for showing he greatly trusts me in personally entrusting me with such a lofty, demanding task", recalled that Cei "is a facility of communion and service for the bishops’ brotherhood, for the understanding of today’s challenges, as well as the great pastoral guidance", that is channelled "by the Pastors in the reality of the dioceses". In his mission, "the Magisterium of the Holy Father" is "a clear and safe light". Then the new president sent a "grateful thought" to card. Ruini, who, "with exemplary faith and pastoral inspiration", in total "loyalty to the Magisterium of the Popes", "headed the CEI for 16 years".
