Berlusconi seeks to cleanse his sins

| Thu, 08/27/2009 - 05:18
berlusconi and bertone

In what is a first in Italian politics, Berlusconi will take part in the procession of the Perdonanza. This ritual guarantees to the participants that are have honestly confessed and regret their sins a clean start - and full forgiveness.

The plenary indulgence was granted in perpetuity by Pope Celestine V to all those who enter the Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio on the 28th and 29th of August each year.

Pope Celestine had a special link with L'Aquila, as he lived much of his life there as a hermit.

In what can only be called an incredible coincidence Berlusconi finds himself able to kill two birds with one stone. He will be in L'Aquila to catch up on progress with the reconstruction after the April Earthquake - an issue that he has staked a lot on - and he will cleanse his sins.

Of course, this in part suggests that Berlusconi has sins to cleanse and that all the speculation in newspapers about wild orgies and escorts is not completely off the mark. After all, Berlusconi himself declared "I am no angel".

In the past only Abruzzo politicians took part in the procession, and never an Italian Prime Minister.

What remains to be seen is whether the Italian Catholics will accept this latest act of Berlusconi and whether the Italian Catholic press will stop criticizing him and asking him to change his lifestyle.

There is only one little detail Berlusconi may have overlooked. Pope Celestine V is one of the few popes to have resigned his post.

----

Below is a clip from last year's procession

Location