Edinburgh: Italian Consul General to attend Mass at St Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral

St Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral

Italian Consul General to attend Sunday Mass at St Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral in Edinburgh.

The Italian Consul General to Scotland, Mr Carlo Perrotta, will be present at Holy Mass in St Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral in Edinburgh this Sunday when Archbishop Leo Cushley of St Andrews & Edinburgh will offer prayers for all those stricken by the recent earthquakes in central Italy that have killed over 250 people.

"I have been in touch with the Italian Consul in Edinburgh, Mr Perrotta, and I've assured Carlo of the prayers and solidarity of the Catholics of St Andrews &
Edinburgh with our dear Italian friends," said Archbishop Cushley, on 26 August.

"I also invite all who wish to come to Mass in the Cathedral at noon this Sunday - which is also our annual Edinburgh Festival Mass - to join us in solidarity and prayer for the victims and survivors of the earthquake."

Archbishop Cushley's invitation was issued as the Italian government declared a state of emergency in the regions worst hit by Wednesday's earthquake. At least 267 people are now known to have died and 400 were injured.

Sunday's Mass will also mark the conclusion of the Edinburgh International Festival 2016 which, providentially, has borne a significant Italian influence. This year's opening concert at the Usher Hall, attended by Archbishop Cushley, featured Rome's Orchestra dell'Accademia di Santa Cecilia conducted by Sir Anthony Pappano. They performed a range of Italian operatic works by Verdi, Rossini and Bellini.

"The Edinburgh International Festival was born in the dark days after the Second World War as a hopeful celebration of our humanity and of our common bonds in Europe, and so it's appropriate for us to remember our Italian brothers and sisters in a special way in these very trying circumstances," said Archbishop Cushley.

Source: SCMO