500th Anniversary of 1st Masses in Argentina and Chile

500th Anniversary of 1st Masses Celebrated in Argentina and Chile

Pope Francis writes to one Salesian bishop, sends one Salesian cardinal in observances

(ANS – Rome – November 11, 2020) – On November 11, 1520, 500 years ago, Fr. Pedro de Valderrama, chaplain of the expedition led by the explorer Ferdinand Magellan, celebrated the first Mass in the territory that is now Chile on the hill of Monte Cruz on the strait that would take its name from the navigator.

Pope Francis recalls this in his message for the occasion, citing the motto of the diocese of Punta Arenas: “God entered from the South.” The recipient of the papal message was the local bishop, Bernardo Bastres Florence, a Salesian, to whom the Pope expresses his sorrow that the ongoing pandemic rendered it impossible to celebrate the happy anniversary with liturgical acts for crowds of celebrants, as planned. He reaffirms his closeness to the Chilean Church in a particularly difficult time for the country and for the Christian community itself.

The same happened months ago, on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the first Mass in what is now Argentina, at Puerto San Julian, province of Santa Cruz. That Mass was celebrated on Palm Sunday, April 1, 1520, in the presence of 200 adventurers who spoke different languages, plus a few locals who watched with curiosity. On this anniversary, Pope Francis sent Cardinal Daniel Fernando Sturla Berhouet, archbishop of Montevideo, Uruguay, also a Salesian, as his representative.

This presence of Salesian bishops in the places of Magellan takes on considerable significance: they are a further sign of the great missionary work carried out by Don Bosco’s sons in those lands at the “ends of the earth,” populated by indigenous populations that have disappeared today, and by immigrants from various nations. To find out more, see the book Magellano e don Bosco intorno al mondo, by Nicola Bottiglieri (published by LDC, 2019) and the film A sud del sud by Salvatore Metastasio (2014).

The hope is that the Salesians and the Salesian Family today will know how to maintain their active presence in Patagonia in the footsteps of the Salesian missionary heroes of the past, as has been requested several times by Pope Francis.

In Fortescue Bay (called “Puerto de las Sardinas” by shippers), 120 miles from Punta Arenas, the place where Magellan’s expedition celebrated their first Mass in 1520, the Chilean Navy has erected a cross. Erected in June 2020, it was officially inaugurated in October as part of the events celebrating the 500th anniversary of the discovery of the Strait of Magellan, which unites the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. A video of the cross being raised is may be viewed online.

Fr. Francesco Motto, SDB
Salesian Historical Institute, Rome

See CNS story on the Pope's letter: https://www.thebostonpilot.com/article.asp?h=Pope_pens_letter_marking_500th_anniversary_of_first_Mass_in_Chile&utm_source=ConstantContact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Dailynewsletter&ID=188805