MONTREAL (CCN) — Montreal’s Our Lady of Consolata Church was filled on Saturday, Oct. 18 by parishioners, priests, religious sisters and many bishops for the funeral of Francesco Leo, father of Toronto’s Cardinal Francis Leo.
The Cardinal returned to the parish in which he grew up to celebrate the funeral Mass of his father. Francesco Leo died on Oct. 11, at the age of 84. He is survived by sons Anthony and Cardinal Leo, and grandchildren Sabrina Maria and Francesco. He was predeceased by his wife Rosa Valente.
Leo concelebrated with Cardinal Thomas Collins, Archbishop emeritus of Toronto, and Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Ivan Jurkovic. Two members of the Toronto Police Chief’s Ceremonial Unit were in attendance. Wearing dress uniform, the police officers greeted well-wishers at the doors of the church.
The Mass was celebrated in Italian, and the former diplomat greeted the nearly full church in three languages: Italian, English and French. Remarking that many had travelled long distances to be in attendance, Leo noted “it was consoling and a great source of comfort” to see the how many people had come to support his family.
In his homily, Leo reflected on the theme of homecoming. Through his death and resurrection, Jesus paid the price so that all of us can return to “la casa del Padre,” the home of our Father, in Heaven.
Leo reflected that his father was a “homebody.” A man who loved sports, politics, music, his garden and his family, he was “shy, simple and hardworking.”
Born in Italy in 1941, Francesco Leo immigrated to Canada in 1953 and only returned to Italy to visit his hometown and family 71 years later when as he accompanied his son to Rome to be elevated to the College of Cardinals at the papal consistory.
Leo mused that his father’s return to his home country last year was a kind of preparation for his final heavenly homecoming.
“From his home in Montreal, back to his hometown in Italy, the Lord has taken him home to Heaven,” said Leo.
The cardinal took special care to acknowledge the five rows of priests in attendance, thanking them for their support, and said that “priests are the gift of God to the Church.”
Leo said that though Montreal Archbishop Christian Lépine had been unable to be present he had communicated that he was “there in spirit.” Episcopal vicar Fr. Pierangelo Paternieri was also given special thanks for his help.
Leo made special mention of Our Lady of Consolata as his “home parish.”
“The people of this parish prayed so hard for a vocation to the priesthood, and they got one. They got me,” said Leo.
In addition to Collins and Jurkovic, Bishops Bryan Bayda of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Paul Tabet of the Maronite Catholic Eparchy of Montreal, Ivan Camilleri, Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto, Douglas Crosby of Hamilton and Lionel Gendron, Bishop Emeritus Saint-Jean-Longueuil, also joined the Cardinal on the altar.
