Gaeta, Sunday February 14, 2021 – On the 160th anniversary of the end of the Siege of Gaeta in 1860 – 1861, which marked the decline of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, our Sacred Order, thanks to the active collaboration of the Representative for the City of Gaeta, Attorney Scafetta, organized a program of religious and civil initiatives.
On behalf of the Delegation of Rome and Lazio, the Delegate, HH Prince Orsini d’Aragona, the Vice Delegate, Count Riccardo Langosco, the Counselor at the Ceremonial of the Sacred Functions, Cav. Officer Dr. Rocco Marco Massara Ferrari took part in these initiatives.
During the symbolic flag-raising ceremony, held at the Montagna Spaccata, where the Transilvania Battery was located, Dr. Leccese, City Councilor, greeted the participants on behalf of the Mayor; then Colonel Lustrino – Commander of the Nunziatella Military School in Naples – followed with his speech; the Honorary President of the Alumni Association, Dr. Giuseppe Catenacci; the President of the Lazio section, Ing. Giancarlo Carta, and Attorney Scafetta also attended.
SA Prince Don Lelio Orsini took the floor by celebrating the great Christian values pursued by Their Royal Majesties, the Kings of the Two Sicilies; at the end, the Military Chaplain of the Nunziatella blessed a wreath of flowers, thrown into the sea in homage to those who died.
After the civil ceremony, H.E. the Archbishop of Gaeta, Bishop VARI, assisted by the Reverend Priests and Ecclesiastical Knights Don Ettore Capra and Don Teodoro Beccia, officiated the Prelatic Mass in suffrage of those who passed away at the Sanctuary of the Holy Trinity guarded by the Fathers of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions, – thanks to the availability of the Rector, Father Nevio Viganò.
During his homily, His Excellency wanted to dwell on the Christian virtues demonstrated by the Kings during the siege, during which they took care that the Bourbon Army maintained feelings of Christian brotherhood towards the enemy.
