Michele Pellegrino, Priest and Scholar

Abstract

Twenty-five years after his death in Turin on 10 October 2011, a commemoration was held in honour of Michele Pellegrino, eminent scholar, university lecturer, Archbishop of Turin from 1965 to 1977, and cardinal. Among the speakers was the present Archbishop, Cesare Nosiglia, and Livio Maritano, the Emeritus Bishop of Acqui. The talk published here gives an outline of Pellegrino as presbyter and academic. It looks at his life, which often demonstrated tremendous generosity as well as absolute faithfulness to Christ and to other people. Some things come into particular light: the witness of his poverty embraced out of love for others, his renunciation of any personal egoism, with a sensitivity that was ready, following the example of St. Augustine (who he knew and loved in a special way) to respond to the needs of the world where he exercised his ministry. The striking thing about him is his integrity in living out his intense intellectual life and his rich experience as a pastor in the Church.