March 11, 1972
I’ve received a letter from P.L. This is what he says:
You may have already learned that Cardinal
Tisserant died on the 21st [of February]. As he was in
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reality the Vice-Pope, you can imagine the pomp of the
funeral ceremony, with representatives from the French
government, the French Academy, the Italian govern
ment, etc.: one full week of ceremonies. Being his
secretary, I had to organize everything. I am very
tired…. Msgr. R. very much suffered from this loss. I
think he will be coming to you in a few weeks, or a
month at most: he is determined to get out. Many things
have happened since his meeting with Mother …. [[See conversation of January 29, 1972. ]]
While filing some papers, I came across the enclosed
document which may interest you. I hope the bishopric
continues to leave you in peace …."
The document is a copy of Cardinal Tisserand’s letter to the
Archbishop of Pondicherry:
Albano, Regina Apostolorum, 13 January 1972
To His Excellency Msgr. A.R.
Archbishop of Pondicherry
Venerable Lord,
As Your Excellency knows, I have directed the Holy Congre
gation for the Eastern Church for nearly twenty-five years, and
one of my most cherished memories is the journey I made to
your beloved country in 1953. I have always held a keen interest
in your great nation, but even more so after I visited it. It was
thus with a very special pleasure that I accompanied His
Holiness Pope Paul VI to the International Eucharistic Con
gress in Bombay.
On that occasion, the Holy Father expressed the wish to
come in contact with representatives of your country’s main
religious movements, and I know, Excellency, that he was
given a biography of Sri Aurobindo.
It is in fact in connection with the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in
Pondicherry that I am taking the liberty of writing Your
Excellency. I am sure you are aware of the reputation it has
earned beyond India’s borders; I have been following its work
and achievements for years. Recently, I was told of the difficul
ties encountered by those in charge of the Ashram in regard to
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the proposed creation of a university – a project expressly
favored by the Indian Government; some Catholic students, in
conjunction with a few priests, are displaying a strong opposi
tion to this project.
I therefore request Your Excellency kindly to use his
authority to avoid any incident that, at all events, would
be highly detrimental to the harmony that His Holiness Pope
Paul VI so much desires, in accord with the rules laid down by
the Ecumenical Council Vatican II.
With gratitude, I remain, Venerable Lord,
respectfully and faithfully yours,
Signed: Eugene Card. Tisserand
It’s interesting. Who has replaced him?
I don’t know, nobody has been appointed yet.
But since then, they’ve been quiet here.
(Mother plunges in
Champaklal comes up to Mother,
abruptly pulling her out of her state)
I was in Italy.
Stories with cardinals….
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