Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, the prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches, traveled to Romania to pay tribute to Blessed Iuliu Hossu, an Eastern Catholic prelate who died as a martyr in 1970, under the Communist regime.
Newsroom (09/09/2025, Gaudium Press ) The Romanian Greek Catholic Eparchy of Cluj-Gherla hosted a poignant concert-performance titled “IN MEMORIAM CARDINAL IULIU HOSSU” at the National Opera in Cluj, drawing hundreds to honor the legacy of the revered cardinal and martyr. The event, imbued with spiritual and cultural significance, celebrated Cardinal Iuliu Hossu’s unwavering commitment to truth and faith, a beacon for Romanian Catholics and a testament to the enduring conscience of a nation.
The evening featured a blend of symphonic and sacred music interwoven with excerpts from Cardinal Hossu’s memoirs, performed with profound reverence. The National Opera’s orchestra, under the baton of Flaviu Mogoșan, joined forces with the Greek-Catholic choirs Angeli of the Cathedral of the Transfiguration, led by Angela David, and Adoremus of the Cathedral of the Martyrs and Confessors of the 20th Century, conducted by Ana-Maria Mureșan. Soloists Florin Estefan, Tatiana Lisnic, Cristian Mogoșan, and Diana Man, alongside actor Radu Botar, who portrayed Cardinal Hossu, created a solemn and stirring atmosphere that resonated deeply with the audience.
Among the distinguished attendees was Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches at the Vatican, who brought a message of gratitude from Pope Francis. “I came from Rome to say thank you and to congratulate you,” Cardinal Gugerotti declared. “Pope Francis himself wanted me to be present at this solemn moment. I came to congratulate you for this man, who represents the conscience of Romanians. Conscience is a most precious value, spoken of very little today, which can be divided, cut, even sold. But for this man, it was not so. He said NO to falsehood and YES to truth—a yes he had already said and did not wish to delay.” His words underscored the cardinal’s resolute faith, a guiding light for Catholics and all who cherish integrity.
Bishop Claudiu Pop of the Greek-Catholic Eparchy of Cluj-Gherla emphasized the universal significance of the event. “The presence of the Apostolic Nuncio and Cardinal Gugerotti, the Pope’s minister for all Eastern Churches, reminds us of the values in which Iuliu Hossu believed, for which he lived, and for which he died,” he said. “Today’s moment is not only about Greek-Catholics—it is about all of us. It is a moment dedicated to hope. I would like you to turn this wonderful evening into a prayer.”
The performance is part of a series of commemorative events held from September 4 to 6, 2025, in Cluj-Napoca, honoring Cardinal Iuliu Hossu, a pivotal figure in the Greater Union of Romania and a blessed martyr of the Romanian Greek Catholic Church. These events, marking 2025 as the “Cardinal Iuliu Hossu Year” in Romania, include the autumn session of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Romania and the Republic of Moldova—the first hosted by the Cluj-Gherla Eparchy since 2017—and an international symposium titled Iuliu Hossu – Our Faith is Our Life. The symposium brings together hierarchs, academics, artists, and believers to reflect on Hossu’s life and legacy.
In a prior statement, the Diocese of Cluj-Gherla described the events as “days of true spiritual, academic, and cultural celebration,” noting that Cluj-Napoca, nestled along the Someș River, serves as a fitting backdrop for this convergence of faith and history. Cardinal Hossu’s life, marked by his steadfast defense of the Catholic faith under persecution, continues to inspire, reminding the faithful that conscience and truth are inseparable from a life lived in service to God.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from agerpres.ro
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