Last Thursday, at the Archbishop’s Palace in Palermo, a beautiful and encouraging event took place. It was the culmination of a previous happening, which deep symbolism stemmed from the historical reparation and the will of understanding.
In these times, when people kill in the name of obscure gods, such powerful news reminds us that the only possible gods dwell in the light.
The facts ride on three dates: January 12, 1493, January 12 and June 29, 2017: a period spanning 524 years, which, notwithstanding, was not an obstacle to do justice. Reference is made to the decision made at the beginning of this year by Monsignor Corrado Lorefice, Archbishop of Palermo, to assign, free of charge (commodato d’uso) the Oratory of Santa Maria del Sabato to the local Jewish community so that the latter can reinstate, in that building, the old Synagogue of Palermo.
Monsignor Lorefice picked January 12 because that very date, 5 centuries earlier, marks the deadline dictated by King Ferdinand for the Jews to leave Sicily. Not in vain, Sicily was part of the Catalonian crown, confederated with the Castilian one, through the matrimony between King Ferdinand and Queen Elizabeth.
It was then that the Catholic Church confiscated the Great Synagogue of the Sicilian capital, demolished it and erected atop its ruins the Church of Saint Nicolas de Tolentino and the Oratory of Santa Maria del Sabato.
Now, a Catholic Archbishop gives it back to the Jewish community, 524 years later.
A Jewish proverb states that the sword appeared in this world due to the delay in justice, and as a logical consequence, when justice shows up, the sword backs-off. This is the case of this gesture by the Catholic Church, which profound symbolism lies on three significant virtues; the redress of an act of injustice, the message of spiritual concord and the triumph of the tolerance over the arrogance, overbearingness and power.
So many centuries later, a gesture of Catholic generosity repairs part of the terrible pain inflicted, on the name of the cross, upon the Jewish people.
Since each good deed has the tendency of multiplying itself, the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation – which focuses on rewarding “the rescuers”, not only those who rescue human lives but also those who rescue cultural assets, has bestowed its Medal of Honor to Archbishop Lorefice, a high decoration never before bestowed upon another member of the Catholic Church.
This is the closure of a circle of good deeds and beautiful intentions that spread a revolutionary message, amidst times of confusion and disenchantment. The gods are an instrument of goodness when the look at each other and smile. Their spiritual message can reach depth when it is based upon justice.
In Palermo, an evil was amended.
Translation: IRWF
