Activity As Liturgist
Marini's innovative approach to papal ceremonies sometimes made him the focus of criticism, so that, after the election of Pope Benedict XVI in 2005, it was hopefully rumoured that he would be removed from his post and would take up an Italian diocese .
Some surmised that the timing of Marini's departure may be linked to the July 2007 decision by Pope Benedict to liberalise permission for the 1962 Tridentine Mass. Of this document Marini said that it "does not intend to introduce modifications into the current Roman Missal nor to express a negative judgement on the liturgical reform desired by the Council" and that it was "a gesture at the service of unity".
Of his relationship with Pope Benedict XVI, Marini wrote:
I also express my heartfelt filial gratitude to Pope Benedict XVI who, immediately following his election, chose to confirm me as Master of Papal Liturgical Celebrations. To tell the truth, it was not a completely new experience for me, since I had been his master of ceremonies following his elevation to the cardinalate. For this reason too, from the very start I felt welcomed by Pope Benedict as a son. In him I could see, to my great satisfaction, not only a professor but also a Pope who is an expert in the liturgy. I will never forget the emotion I felt in finding myself alone with him in the Sistine Chapel just after his election, or the emotion I experienced during the rites of the inauguration of his Petrine ministry. These rites remain fixed in my mind and heart, since I consider them the fullest and most successful icon which the liturgy has given of the Church in the wake of the Second Vatican Council. Thank you, Pope Benedict, for having approved those rites and for having celebrated them with God’s Holy People.
Marini is the author of A Challenging Reform - Realizing the Vision of the Liturgical Renewal (ISBN: 978-0-8146-3035-8).
Read more about this topic: Piero Marini
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