A special ceremony for the enthronement of the Holy Face of Manoppello (Abruzzo) with over 700 in attendance was held on July 15 at the National Centre for Padre Pio in Barto, Pennsylvania. https://www.padrepio.org
This sacred image will now be permanently displayed in the church.
The Mass for the Enthronement was celebrated by the local ordinary Bishop Alfred Schlert of the Diocese of Allentown and by Father Antonio Gentili, OFM, Cap. rector of the Basilica in Manoppello. During the Mass Bishop Schlert delivered the following homily
The Mass for the Enthronement was celebrated by the local ordinary Bishop Alfred Schlert of the Diocese of Allentown and by Father Antonio Gentili, OFM, Cap. rector of the Basilica in Manoppello. During the Mass Bishop Schlert delivered the following homily
Dear brothers and sisters,
Today we stand before a mysterious and fascinating image: the Holy Face of Manoppello. This delicate, transparent veil, lovingly preserved by the Capuchin Friars, presents to us a face that is both suffering and serene, human and divine at the same time. It is the face of the Risen One, the face of Mercy.
In the Gospel, Philip says to Jesus, “Show us the Father, and that will be enough for us,” and Jesus replies, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:8–9). The Holy Face invites us to do exactly that: to contemplate God who made Himself visible in Christ. This is not a painted face, but a living face—one that looks at us. It is the gaze of the One who conquered death and offers us hope.
This Face challenges us: we cannot look upon it without being changed. It asks us, “Do you reflect my face in the world? Do you carry the light of my Resurrection in your eyes, in your actions, in your daily life?”
In a time of confusion and superficiality, the Holy Face calls us back to truth and depth. To look at Christ is to let ourselves be looked at by Him. And His gaze does not judge, but saves. It does not condemn, but heals. It is the Face of Love that searched for us even in the night.
Today, let us ask for the grace to carry this Face within us, to let it be imprinted on our hearts. Because, as Pope Benedict XVI said here in Manoppello, “This is the Face of peace that nothing can destroy.”
Amen.
Bishop Schlert had traveled to Manoppello the week prior to the enthronement, celebrating Mass in the Basilica, and touching the copy of the Holy Face to be enthroned at the church of the National Centre for Padre Pio to the original Holy Face.
 |
| Bishop Alfred Schlert of Allentown celebrating Mass in the Basilica with Fr. Antonio Gentili |
 |
Bishop Schlert touching the copy to be used in the enthronement at the National Centre for Padre Pio to the Holy Face of Manoppello |
The enthronement at the National Centre for Padre Pio was facilitated by Tamara Klapatch, a devout promoter of the Holy Face and of the cause for beatification of Father Domenico da Cese, a Capuchin mystic known as the Apostle of the Holy Face. She is responsible for the website www.padredomenico.org Padre Domenico, who belonged to the religious community of the Shrine of the Holy Face, died in Turin where he had gone for the exposition of the Shroud, on September 17, 1978.
The enthronement was reported by a number of American and Italian websites, here are a few examples.
The enthronement was reported by a number of American and Italian websites, here are a few examples.
