This second part of my speech in defense of the Nuns of Pienza, after a first dedicated to the sequence of events ( here ) and a third on the initiatives to be undertaken soon to be published, has as its topic the canonical provisions adopted by the Holy See, with the collaboration of the Diocese of Chiusi-Pienza-Montepulciano and of the Picena Federation of the Benedictine Order. These observations are based on the official documents delivered to the Nuns and on those which they have come to know from third parties, as well as on the unanimous testimonies of the Religious and on the evidence they have kept (such as informal communications on WhatsApp).
In the first part I highlighted the reasons that led these young nuns to Pienza and the chronological succession of events starting from their settlement in the former summer seminary, which remained unused. For this chronology I am referring to the period from August 2017 – which marks the arrival of the Sisters in the Diocese – to the last measures at the end of February 2023.
I. The first anomaly
As already mentioned in the first part, the first anomaly that we can find in the story of the Monastery “Maria Tempio dello Spirito Santo” dates back to its canonical erection by the then Bishop Mons. Stefano Manetti, who thanks to him obtained the sui juris status in February 2019 – i.e. directly dependent on the Holy See – despite the fact that he had not provided him with ownership of the property and ensured him the means of subsistence, probably hoping to be able to subsequently remedy a situation that he judged provisional and of which he declared himself guarantor to the nuns.
The transfer to the Diocese of Fiesole of Msgr. Manetti and the appointment of Card. Augusto Paolo Lojudice in Pienza – which entered into force on 21 July 2022, but communicated informally since the previous April – drastically changes things, forcing Msgr. Manetti to try to hastily remedy that forcing of the canonical norms which would certainly have raised doubts in his successor. Let us not forget that the trait d’union between Manetti and Lojudice is given by Don Antonio Canestri, former Rector of the Seminary (whose property was later assigned to the Monastery), promoted Vicar General by Manetti and confirmed by Lojudice, of whom he is a long-time friend date.
It is not superfluous to note that the appointment of Cardinal Lojudice in Pienza was made in persona Episcopi , i.e. assigning him personally the Diocese of Montepulciano-Chiusi-Pienza,together with that of which he was already Archbishop, namely the Archdiocese of Siena-Colle Val d’Elsa-Montalcino. This nomination in person Episcopi would not have been possible without the transfer of Manetti to Fiesole.
The most linear and compliant solution with Canon Law would have been to definitively assign the building of the Seminary to the Monastery, with a multi-year loan agreement, or a similar structure immediately available and habitable; and this should have happened from the start. Instead of following the path traced by common sense without creating further problems for the Sisters, Bishop Manetti tries to persuade them to leave, and he does so informally, without ever leaving anything in writing, announcing that this would still be their fate, as soon as the new Bishop had been installed.
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Il Caso del Monastero di Pienza. Secondo Intervento di Mons. Viganò. : STILUM CURIAE
The Case of the Monastery of Pienza. Second Intervention by Mons. Viganò. : STILUM CURIAE
