|
News Items:
|
|
Headlines
|
|
News Briefs
|
|
Stories
|
|
Movies
|
|
Word To Life
|
|
Other Items:
|
|
Client Area
|
|
Links
|
|
CNS Stylebook
|
|
Archives:
|
|
Origins
|
|
.
|
|
Did You Know...
|
The whole CNS
public Web site
headlines, briefs
stories, etc,
represents less
than one percent
of the daily news
report.
Get all the news!
If you would like
more information
about the
Catholic News
Service daily
news report,
please contact
CNS at one of
the following:
cns@
catholicnews.com
or
(202) 541-3250
|
|
.
|
|
Copyright:
|
The CNS news
report may not
be published,
broadcast,
rewritten or
otherwise
distributed,
including but not
limited to such
means as
framing or any
other digital
copying or
distribution
method, in whole
or in part without
the prior written
authority of
Catholic News
Service.
Copyright
(c) 2004
Catholic News
Service/U.S.
Conference of
Catholic Bishops.
|
|
|
|
CNS Story:
|
PARIS-MASS Aug-27-2004 (460 words) xxxi
WWII vets join French president at Mass to mark liberation of Paris
By Terrence Murray
Catholic News Service
PARIS (CNS) -- World War II veterans who helped liberate Paris 60 years ago joined French President Jacques Chirac at a commemorative Mass at Notre Dame Cathedral.
Church leaders from the United States, England, Canada and Germany concelebrated the Aug. 26 Mass with Paris Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger.
In his homily, Cardinal Lustiger urged those in attendance not to forget that France's hard-fought freedom has yet to be shared by everyone.
"As Europe builds itself as a unified entity, people all over the world are fighting for their liberty and are calling on freed people for help," the cardinal said. At a time of growing economic disparity, the Paris cardinal asked if today "people are still worthy of the freedom others fought for."
Veterans, some with sports jackets clad with medals and others carrying French flags, filled the pews. Sixty years ago, many were fighting in the streets of Paris.
"I left Tunisia, landed in Provence; it was just incredible when we arrived in Paris," remembered Raymond Aloisio, 78, who had just turned 18 when he helped liberate Paris with French Gen. Philippe Leclerc's 2nd Armored Division.
Leclerc, French Gen. Charles de Gaulle and thousands of others attended a service at Notre Dame shortly after Paris' liberation.
One woman who attended that service and the August Mass said she remembers having to "duck down to avoid sniper bullets." She was 25 at the time.
Concelebrating with Cardinal Lustiger were Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick of Washington; Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor of Westminster, England; and Msgr. Andre Drouin, who represented Ottawa Archbishop Marcel Gervais.
Celebrating Europe's post-war unity among once-bitter enemies, Berlin Cardinal Georg Sterzinsky also concelebrated the Mass.
In June, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder was a special guest at the 60th anniversary of the Allied landing on Normandy beaches; it was the first time a German leader was invited to a D-Day commemoration.
An interfaith service led by Catholic, Protestant, Jewish and Muslim representatives was held outside the cathedral before the anniversary Mass. At a time of growing anti-Semitic attacks, Rabbi David Sefarty urged "forgiveness for the sins of others."
Cardinal Lustiger prayed for "the millions deported to concentration camps. We will pray for all the victims of this tragedy."
Cardinal McCarrick, who said he had finished grade school when Paris was liberated, called the service "a great moment."
Cardinal McCarrick's trip to Paris was sandwiched between trips to Rome and Moscow; he was part of a Vatican delegation returning the Mother of God of Kazan icon to Moscow's Orthodox patriarch.
"It was important to be here," Cardinal McCarrick said Aug. 26. "The U.S. played such an important role in liberating France and Paris. I was touched by Cardinal Lustiger's invitation."
END
Copyright (c) 2004 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service.
|
|
|
|
