A packed basilica, a silence filled with anticipation and emotion: the celebrations for the centenary of the dedication of the Basilica of Our Lady of Bonaria, the spiritual heart of Sardinia, have begun in Cagliari (also live on Videolina).
At 11 a.m., the most anticipated moment, the Eucharistic celebration presided over by Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, president of the Italian Episcopal Conference . The faithful, arriving from all over the island, filled every space in the church, participating with intense devotion in an event that unites history, faith, and identity.
"A hundred years worn beautifully ," Cardinal Zuppi inaugurated the celebrations with a smile, thanking the community for their welcome, emphasizing the value of feeling "at home," and inviting everyone to celebrate this anniversary in the spirit of shared love.
The cardinal's homily opened precisely with the bond between this land and its people. A thought for "the many children who have gone away, but who remain intimately and infinitely with us."
Then came the most touching moment, in a church filled with silence and tears in its eyes. With a voice broken by emotion, before hundreds of faithful, Cardinal Zuppi confessed: "Every time I heard this prayer sung, I was moved . Today, here, I will try to recite it." And, in an almost unreal silence, the verbal notes of "Deus ti salvet Maria" resounded through the nave.
The event culminates the novena that began on April 15th, led by the bishops of the Sardinian dioceses. But today, devotion to the "Mother of Bonaria" grows even stronger, amid songs, prayers, and tears in her eyes.
A century of history that continues to speak to the present: from the basilica, prayers rise for peace, for respect for human dignity, and for those around the world who suffer from war, poverty, and injustice. A community gathered together, united, renewing its bond with its Mother at this moment.