The continuous attention and affection of
John Paul II for the Carmelite Order
List of some significant events
Anthony Cilia, O.Carm.
November 29, 1978: During the encounter with the representatives of movements
of liberation which work in Namibia, South Africa and Rhodesia (at present
Zimbabwe), John Paul II underlined the case of the Bishop, Mgr. Donald Raymond
Lamont, O.Carm., defender of the African people.
April 28, 1979: John Paul II appointed Father José Cardoso Sobrinho, O.Carm., at
that time Procurator General, Bishop of the Cathedral Church of Paracatù, Brazil. He
was ordained by the Holy Father on May 27, 1979, in the Vatican Basilica, together
with other 25 new Bishops.
October 21, 1979: John Paul II, during a short visit in Naples, Italy, underlined: “To
all it is known, dear people from Naples, your love and devotion to Our Lady of
Mount Carmel”.
February 16, 1980: John Paul II appointed Father Falco J. Thuis, O.Carm., together
with other nine Superiors General of men’s Institute, Synod Fathers for the Synod of
Bishops on the “Christian Family”, held in October 1980.
February 17, 1980: John Paul II went to the Carmelite Parish of San Martino ai
Monti in Rome for the pastoral visitation.
April 23, 1980: John Paul II, by a Decree, erected the new Diocese of Itaguai in
Brazil with its first Bishop, Mgr. Vital Wilerink, O.Carm., at the time Auxiliary Bishop
of Barra Do Pirai and Volta Redonda.
November 9, 1981: John Paul II, in his own name and by his own authority,
granted the solemn crowning of the picture of the Madonna venerated in the
Carmelite Church of Wola Gulowska, Poland.
May 26, 1982: John Paul II sent a autographed message greeting Mgr. Donald
Raymond Lamont, O.Carm., former Bishop of Umtali (Rhodesia) on the occasion of
the 25th anniversary of his Episcopal ordination.
November 9, 1984: John Paul II approved the Decree which declares the death of
Father Titus Brandsma, O.Carm., in defence of Catholic faith.
November 30, 1984: John Paul II appointed Father Paolo Cardoso da Silva,
O.Carm., Bishop of Petrolina in Brazil.
November 3, 1985: John Paul II, in Saint Peter’s Basilica, added to the rank of the
Blessed, Father Titus Brandsma, O.Carm.
February 28, 1986: Addressing the representatives of the Catholic Union of Italian
Journalists and of the Association of Foreign Journalists meeting in Rome, John Paul
II presented Blessed Titus Brandsma as “a courageous journalist... martyr of
freedom of expression”.
June 17, 1986: John Paul II received, in an audience, a group of Carmelite religious
from the whole world for a course in ongoing formation. They participated in the Holy
Mass and after they remained for a few moments to exchange news and greetings.
December 14, 1986: John Paul II made a pastoral visitation to the Carmelite Parish
of Santa Maria Regina Mundi and Mother of Carmel of Torre Spaccata, in Rome.
September 1, 1987: The Carmelite community of Albano Laziale (Rome)
participated in a Eucharistic celebration with John Paul II. After the Mass the Pope
remained with the Novices and with the Religious who accompanied them.
November 7, 1987: John Paul II, with an apostolic Brief, wished to confer on the
Sanctuary-Parish of Carmel of Catania (Sicily), Italy, the title of a Minor Basilica.
July 7, 1988: John Paul II appointed Father Alberto Johannes Först, O.Carm.,
Coadjutor Bishop of Dourados in Brazil.
July 16, 1988: Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, John Paul II recalled several
times this feast in his messages and greetings addressed to the pilgrims. The Holy
Father addressed to all the invitation to allow themselves to be guided by Mary and
to intensify devotion to her. (see L’Osservatore Romano, July 14, 1988, p. 4: 25-26
July 1988, p. 1; 17 July 1988, p. 5).
January 15, 1989: John Paul II inaugurated the new cycle of pastoral visitations in
the Parishes in the Roman Diocese meeting the young Christian community of
Mostacciano entrusted to the Carmelites.
June 8, 1989: John Paul II appointed Father Herman Joseph Pandoyoputro,
O.Carm., Bishop of Malang, Giava, Indonesia.
September 29, 2989: The members of the General Chapter of the Carmelite Order
had an audience with John Paul II. To the address of the General Prior, His Holiness
responded with a discourse (see L’Osservatore Romano, Saturday, September 30,
1989, p. 6), giving his apostolic blessing and greeting each participant.
November 11, 1990: During John Paul II’s three day visit to Naples (Italy), the
famous Icon of the Madonna “La Bruna” found in the Major Basilica of Carmel, was
taken in procession to Piazza Plebiscito for the Papal Mass. During the celebration of
the Mass, the Holy Father and the Cardinal referred several times to the devotion of
the people of Naples to Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
September 23, 1995: John Paul II received in an audience in his summer residence
in Castelgandolfo, the new Prior General, Father Joseph Chalmers, O.Carm., and the
members of the General Chapter.
October 1, 1995: John Paul II beatified the Servant of God, Father Jacques
Retouret, O.Carm., who suffered martyrdom during the French Revolution in 1794
together with more than 500 priests and religious.
July 3, 1996: John Paul II appointed Father Antonio Vitalino Fernandes Dantas,
O.Carm., Titular Bishop of Tlos and Auxiliary of the Patriarchate of Lisbon.
February 4, 1998: John Paul II appointed Father Antonio Muñiz Fernandes,
O.Carm., Bishop of Guarabira, Brazil.
December 16 and 17, 1998: On the occasion of the 750th anniversary of the
definitive approbation of the Carmelite Rule, the General Council had an audience
with John Paul II. During his first visit the Prior General presented to the Holy Father
a copy of the Rule. Then, on the following day, all the General Council was invited to
celebrate the Eucharist with the Holy Father in his private chapel.
January 25, 1999: Vatican Radio communicated the news that John Paul II had
accepted the resignation to the pastoral government of the Diocese of Beja, Portugal,
presented because of age, by Mgr. Manuel Francoa da Costa de Oliveira Falcao, and
in his place he appointed the new Bishop of the Portuguese ecclesiastical
circumscription, Mgr. Antonio Vitalino Fernandes Dantas, O.Carm., up until now
titular Bishop of Tlos and Auxiliary of the Patriarchate of Lisbon.
May 1, 1999: On the occasion of the 700 th anniversary of the Carmelite presence in
the Parish dedicated to Saints Sylvester and Martino, in Rome, John Paul II sent a
letter to the community recalling some historical moments of the Parish and the
dedication of the Carmelites to the People of God.
June 3, 1999: During his visit to Poland, John Paul II beatified Father Ilarione
Januszewski, O.Carm., who died in Dachau in 1945.
June 9, 1999: John Paul II appointed Father Lucio Renna, O.Carm, then Procurator
General of our Order, Bishop of Avezzano, Italy.
July 26, 1999: John Paul II appointed Father Miguel La Fay Bardi, O.Carm., Prelate
Bishop of Sicuani, Cusco, Peru.
June 29, 2000: John Paul II sent a message to Cardinal Michele Giordano,
Archbishop of the city of Naples, on the occasion of the celebrations for the 500
years of pilgrimage to Rome of a group of people having great devotion to the Icon
of the “Virgin La Bruna” venerated in the Sanctuary Basilica of Carmel.
July 16, 2000: On the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, while John Paul II was in
Val d’Aosta, Italy, for the summer holidays, he gave a brief catechesis, to the faithful
gathered together for the Angelus, on devotion to the Scapular.
March 25, 2001: In a letter addressed to Father Joseph Chalmers, Prior General of
the Carmelites and to Father Camilo Maccise, General Superior of the Discalced
Carmelites, John Paul II expressed the importance of devotion to Our Lady through
the use of the Scapular, saying that he himself wore it as a sign of veneration and of
particular fidelity to Our Lady of Mount Carmel (message).
April 12, 2001: John Paul II nominated Father Filippo Iannone, O.Carm., Auxiliary
Bishop of the Archdiocese of Naples, Italy.
May 9, 2001: During his visit in Malta, John Paul II raised to the honour of the altar
the priest and Carmelite tertiary and Servant of God, George Preca.
September 8, 2001: John Paul II sent a message and his blessing to the
participants in the General Chapter of the Order (message).
September 12, 2001: All the members of Carmel met in Piazza S. Pietro (St.
Peter’s Square) to manifest together the joy and thanksgiving to Mary for the gift of
the Scapular and the Holy Father for his recent Letter on devotion of Our Lady of
Mount Carmel. At the end of the audience, John Paul II crowned the statue of Our
Lady of Mount Carmel in the Carmelite Church of Traspotina (Rome) and gave his
blessing to all who were present. (message – viva voce).
November 30, 2001: In a letter sent to Mgr. Luciano Giovannetti, Bishop of
Fieseole for the VIIth century of the birth of Saint Andrea Corsini, O.Carm., John Paul
II took this occasion to join the entire Diocesan Community, to thank the Lord for the
benefits with which he has enriched it through his witness and intercession.
(message).
October 7, 2002: John Paul II wrote a letter to the Carmelite Order on the occasion
of the 550th anniversary of the Papal Bull “Cum Nulla”, with which were born officially
the Carmelite Cloistered Nuns and the Carmelite Third Order. (message).
November 26, 2004: In his message to the participants in the Congress on
Consecrated Life, in which eight hundred and fifty persons participated, John Paul II
stressed Saint Mary Magdalene Pazzi, O.Carm., as a model of inspiration for all
religious in loving the Love and in doing everything so that He will be loved.