Archbishop Pietro Sambi

Please pray for the repose of the soul of His Excellency, Archbishop Pietro Sambi, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States of America, who passed peacefully from his earthly life to Eternal Life on July 27, 2011.

I was privileged to meet His Excellency shortly after his arrival from the Holy Land in 2005 where he had served as Apostolic Nuncio to Israel and Apostolic Delegate to Jerusalem and Palestine.   His Excellency graciously celebrated the Opening Mass of the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organizations (WUCWO) 2006 Assembly at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC.  He knew of the good work of WUCWO especially from his service in Indonesia and India, and now through the Assembly hostesses, the National Council of Catholic Women of the USA. 

When it was time to plan the 2010 WUCWO Centenary Assembly, a suggestion was made that we go to the Holy Land.  Who better to consult for advice than Archbishop Sambi?  Needless to say, His Excellency strongly recommended Jerusalem as the venue and encouraged this president to proceed with what seemed like a dream, but by the grace of God, became a reality for 500 women from 50 countries.  He generously shared his experience, advice and personal contacts which assured our meeting, interacting with, and becoming close friends with the “living stones,” the Christians of the Holy Land.  He accompanied us in Spirit and prayer, and rejoiced with us in the blessings God bestowed on the amazing, life-changing pilgrimage to the roots of our faith.

Archbishop Pietro Sambi proposed four principles for our reflection during his May 31, 2006 Homily, which exemplified his own faith in Jesus Christ and fidelity to the Gospel:

    1.  Have a clear Christian identity: only persons of clear identity can spread a positive sense of life and have a strong sense of mission in building a future of serenity and peace.

    2.  Have a strong sense of belonging: to your assembly, to your organization, to the Church, to Jesus Christ: You need your community and your community needs you.  The one who walks alone will be lost.

    3.  Have a strong vocation to exceptional quality in your private life, your family life and in your professional life: only in this case will you attract attention to what you say and to what you do.

    4. With a clear identity, a strong sense of belonging and a strong vocation to exceptional quality, be ready to collaborate with whoever is interested in enriching humanity with love, justice and peace.

Thanks be to God and to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI for sending Archbishop Sambi to be with us and to show us the way to “the new and eternal Jerusalem.”

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.

May he rest in peace.

http://www.radiovaticana.org/en1/Articolo.asp?c=508024

http://usccb.org/comm/archives/2011/11-150.shtml

http://usccb.org/sambi-remembered-statements.shtml