The enthronement ceremony of the new Bishop of Locri-Gerace brought renewed vibrancy to the enchanting village of Gerace. The ceremony took place in the Minor Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta, the Co-Cathedral of the Diocese, where His Excellency the Most Reverend Monsignor Cesare Di Pietro officially took possession of the See, succeeding Monsignor Francesco Oliva.
The solemn and well-attended enthronement ceremony was attended by the Calabria Delegation of the Constantinian Order, represented by Knight Grand Cross of Merit and Deputy Delegate for Calabria, Aurelio Badolati, together with Commander of Merit Carlo Parisio. It is worth noting that Monsignor Cesare Di Pietro himself is a Constantinian Knight Grand Cross of Ecclesiastical Grace.

A delegation of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta was also present. The Co-Cathedral was filled with numerous faithful, many of whom had travelled from Messina, where Monsignor Di Pietro had previously served as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Messina-Lipari-Santa Lucia del Mela.
In his first message to the Diocese, the new Bishop expressed his gratitude above all for the warm welcome he had received and for the trust placed in him by Pope Leo XIV

On behalf of the Calabria Delegation, Knight Aurelio Badolati and Commander Carlo Parisio subsequently had the opportunity to meet with the Bishop. They recalled that the Co-Cathedral of Gerace had itself hosted one of the investiture ceremonies for Constantinian Dames and Knights in 2017. They also outlined the Order’s numerous charitable initiatives, its assistance to those in need and its cultural promotion activities throughout Calabria.
On that occasion, a donation of goods, essential supplies and basic necessities to the Diocesan Caritas was announced for the period around the end of September, in the presence of the Dames and Knights of the Delegation.
The meeting therefore concluded with a cordial “until we meet again”, a greeting that we are confident will be heard with increasing frequency in the relationship between the Constantinian Order’s Delegation and His Excellency the Most Reverend Monsignor Cesare Di Pietro.