The Diocese of Milan announced today that on Thursday, May 9, at 5pm in the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio in Milan, the Archbishop of Milan, His Excellency Monsignor Mario Delpini, will hold the first public session of the Testimonial Phase for the Cause of Beatification and Canonization of the Servant of God Luigi Giussani.

On this announcement, Davide Prosperi, president of the Fraternity of CL, stated:

"The whole movement of Communion and Liberation welcomes this much desired news with great joy. This is a fundamental step in the beatification process of our dear Father Giussani. We are profoundly grateful to Archbishop Delpini, Monsignor Ennio Apeciti, the postulator Professor Chiara Minelli, and all the people involved in the cause for making this very happy decision possible. And of course we are also very grateful to Pope Francis, for the attention and esteem that he has repeatedly expressed, also publicly, for the figure of Father Giussani and for the path that the movement is taking in this period.

We will accompany the moment of prayer in the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio that will mark the beginning of this new phase with affectionate and lively participation, placing the irrepressible desire we carry in our hearts to soon see Father Giussani counted among the blessed and saints of the Lord in the hands of the Church.

The task that we entrust ourselves as of now is to intensify our prayers for the good of the cause, for those who are and will be involved in this phase of the process, and in asking for the intercession of the Servant of God Luigi Giussani with even greater vigour in our intentions.”