Fr Elias Lorenzo Greets Pope Benedict XVI

Jessica Fiddes

Posted March 5

Pope Benedict XVI is welcomed to S. Anselmo by Abbot Primate Notker Wolf and Prior Elias Lorenzo.

Pope Benedict prays before the Blessed Sacrament before beginning the ceremonies at S. Anselmo.

Pope Benedict XVI begins the season of Lent at the chair in the apse of S. Anselmo Basilica.

Benedictine monks of S. Anselmo sing in the schola cantorum for Pope Benedict XVI

Monks, visiting bishops and cardinals process with Pope Benedict from Sant' Anselmo to Santa Sabina for the balance of the Mass.

Fr. Elias Lorenzo, OSB, formerly of St. Mary's Abbey, is currently serving as the Superior and Prior of the Abbey of Sant’ Anselmo in Rome, Italy, the headquarters of international Benedictine Confederation, and a prestigious pontifical university. In his capacity as Prior, Fr. Elias recently had the honor of welcoming Pope Benedict XVI to Sant' Anselmo.

It is a tradition that the Pope visits Sant' Anselmo to inaugurate the Lentan season on Ash Wednesday. On February 17, 2010, the Holy Father was greeted by Abbot Primate Notker Wolf and Fr. Elias, in his role as Prior, and entered the basilica where the two men led him to the Blessed Sacrament altar. There the Pope stopped for a brief prayer, and proceeded to the chair for the opening of the Mass. Reports Fr. Elias, "This is a unique liturgy in that the Pope intones a penitential litany and the monks, visiting bishops and cardinals process from Sant' Anselmo to Santa Sabina for the rest of the Mass." Fr. Elias was kind enough to share these pictures of the Ash Wednesday service with the Delbarton community. Grazie, Fr. Elias!