Lettera smarrita della vedova del colonnello Montezemolo

This post was is written in Italian with a view to reproducing the pertinent documentation and out of respect for the late Colonel Montezemolo's family and the Italian Resistance. 

Solo una volta, in 27 anni di ricerche negli archivi vaticani, mi era capitato di trovare un documento sigillato il cui contenuto non era mai stato esaminato. Oggi è successo di nuovo. Attualmente sto esaminando i fascicoli della Prima Sezione della Segreteria di Stato Pontificia relativi al periodo tra il 1936 e il 1958, alla ricerca di materiale riguardante l'Ucraina. Effettuando una ricerca per parole chiave utilizzando l'indice digitalizzato di questi fascicoli dell'Archivio Apostolico Vaticano, mi sono imbattuto in altri nomi interessanti. Uno di questi era: "Marchesa Montezemolo chiede un automezzo Vaticano le trasporti a Roma da Perugia 5 biciclette di sua proprietà". Ho correttamente supposto che si trattasse della vedova dell'eroe di guerra della Resistenza italiana, il colonnello Giuseppe Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo.

Molti associano la Resistenza italiana ai partigiani comunisti, ma Montezemolo era un aristocratico fedele alla monarchia italiana e un cattolico devoto. Dopo l'occupazione tedesca di Roma, si unì alla resistenza e la sua famiglia si nascose. Suo figlio Andrea, futuro cardinale, si nascose per diversi mesi nel seminario ucraino (il Pontificio Collegio di San Giosafat), fino alla liberazione di Roma da parte degli Alleati nel giungo 1944, mentre suo padre viene catturato dai Nazisti in gennaio e giustiziato alle Fosse Ardeatine le 24 marzo 1944.

Il fascicolo che ho esaminato conteneva due documenti dall'inizio di agosto 1944, o almeno così sembrava. Il primo era una lettera dell'Ambasciata italiana alla Santa Sede e il secondo una busta indirizzata dalla vedova di Montezemolo, Amalia, soprannominata "Juccia." Dopo aver trascritto il primo documento, ho notato che la busta indirizzata alla contessa Nina Guiglia Sartorio era sigillata con lo stemma di Montezemolo e non era mai stata aperta e neppure spedita a destinazione, ma rimasta sigillata per 80 anni, fino a stamattina. Ho chiesto il permesso al personale di aprire la busta, che conteneva non una, ma ben tre lettere: le prime due della marchesa Montezemolo alla sua amica contessa Sartorio, e la terza di Lydia, la figlia maggiore dei Montezemolo, alla figlia della sua amica "Esa" Sartorio. La terza lettera è controfirmata anche dalle altre sorelle, Isolda e Amalia.

Di seguito le trascrizioni dei documenti in parola:

R. Ambasciata d’Italia

presso la Santa Sede

                                                                     Roma 8 Agosto 1944

            Eccellenza Reverendissima,

                                                            mi sono permesso di chiedere l’altro giorno il Suo intervento per un opera buona che interessa la famiglia del compianto Colonnello Montezemolo.

            Si tratta cioè di ottenere che uno dei mezzi del Vaticano transitanti per Perugia possa portare a Roma 5 biciclette lasciate colà (presso la Contessa Nina Guiglia Sartorio, Billa “Il Boschetto”– Monterone, Perugia) dalla Marchesa Montezemolo.

            La famiglia di questa povera signora composta di ben 5 figli si trova in ogni difficoltà per la precarietà dei mezzi di comunicazione e sarebbe per essa un grande sollievo il poter ritirare le biciclette.

            Seguendo il Suo consiglio ho fatto scrivere una lettera dalla Marchesa Montezemolo alla sua amica contenente l’autorizzazione a ritirare le biciclette.

            Veda Lei se dalla cortesia del Governatorato sia possibile affidare l’incarico a persona di fiducia. Il Conte Faina del quale parlammo era purtroppo già partito.

            Con vivissimi ringraziamenti Le rinnovo, Eccellenza Reverendissima, l’espressione del mio deferente ossequio.

                    Roma 4 VIII – 44

            Carissima Nina,

la tua cara lettera con le due suave parole mi ha fatto tanto bene …. se sapessi quanto ho sofferto e quanto soffro! Non mi rendo conto di come io possa continuare a vivere … Prego Dio che mi dia la forza di andare avanti giorno per giorno e di pensare solo ai bambini e a Papà e Mamma.

Ho tanto pensato a te quando ho saputo lo strazio che ti ha colpita, soltanto quando uno soffre molto può comprendere il dolore degli altri…. ho pregato con le bambine perché il Signore ti sostenesse e ti consolasse. Sarò tanto contenta di poterti riabbracciare, voglio sperare che ti faccia presto una gita a Roma - Anche le bambine, che ricordano sempre le tue con tanto affetto, desiderano molto di rivederle –

        Mi ha fatto molto piacere di sentire che la battaglia si è passata vicina senza molestarti troppo. Il Boschetto è stato proprio benedetto da Dio …..

Immagino quali saranno le tue ansie per i tuoi cari di Genova, io pure sono in continuo pensiero per Papà e Mamma di cui non ho più avuto notizie dal 25 maggio. Chissà quando potremo rivederli…. Che Dio ci aiuti tutti e salvi la nostra povera Italia ! Ti prego di dire a Don Giuseppe tutto la parte che prendo ai suoi lutti, ho sentito da tuo marito le tragedie dei suoi nipoti, digli anche che preghi un po’ per me, perché ne ho tanto, tanto bisogno….

        Ti abbraccio, cara, con la speranza di rivederti presto, e ti ringrazio di aver pensato di mandarmi la cappelliera, che mi è venuta molto utile.

                                                                                 tua Juccia.

 

6 - agosto- 1944.

            Carissima Nina,

riapro la lettere che attendevo di consegnare a tuo marito per aggiungervi questo soglio. Il ministro presso il Vaticano mi offre l’occasione di farmi trasportare le biciclette, di cui ho immenso bisogno e mi avverte che spera di poter mandare un camion della Santa Sede (di transito a Perugia) a prenderla direttamente al Boschetto, ti prego perciò di consegnarle senz’altro a chi ti porterà questa lettera. Se per caso ti vedessi che sul camion si fosse ancora posto, e se fossero disposti a caricare, ti pregherei di mandarmi anche altro; di tutto ho bisogno, perciò qualunque cosa mi verrà utile specialmente il forno perché qui si fa una vita impossibile per cucinare e a Roma i forni da campagna costano da 1000 lire in su! (Del letto non ho bisogno).

Pensa la noia e ancora affettuosissimi saluti, baci ai cari piccoli.

                                                                                                       Juccia.

 

            Cara Esa,

Ti ringrazio molto della Tua lettera che ci hai portato Tuo padre; da molto tempo solevo risponderTi ma aspettavo di sapere quando sarebbe ripartito per Perugia, purtroppo però non l’abbiamo saputo e approfitto perciò di questa occasione per scriverti e ringraziarti tanto tutti della parte che avete preso al nostro grande dolore e delle Vostre preghiere che ci sono di gran conforto. 

    Ci ha fatta molta pena la notizia della perdita della Vostra cara Nonna ala quale eravate tanto affezionate; si siano tanto vicine col cuore in questo momento così doloroso anche per voi.

Tuo padre ci ha detto che forse fra qualche tempo verrete a Roma per continuare gli studi siano proprio contente al pensiero di rivederci presto –

Tutti i venerdì andiamo a Trinità [dei Monti] dove restiamo tutta la mattina, dopo la messa, in giardino a chiacchierare e a lavorare con le madri.

Ieri abbiamo visto Eugenia Sansonetti che è arrivata da Mottola, si fermerà qui qualche giorno col padre e con la madre e poi ripartirà. Parliamo sovente di voi con le compagne e con le madri e tutte rimpiangono molto la vostra mancanza. Ti prego di salutari i Forti e di dare un bacio a Raggi e a Checco da parte nostra.

Devoti saluti alla vostra Mammina, a Te e a Amma un abbraccio affettuoso da Lydia.

                         Tanti saluti da Isolda

                              Adriana

Kushnir and the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain 80th

Rev. Voyakovsky, Kushnir, Jean, Malynovsky, Germany 1946

Today marks the 80th anniversary of the inaugural meeting of the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB). To mark this occasion, I searched  through my research from archives in the Vatican, London, and Canada, and came upon a report by Reverend Vasyl Kushnir of Winnipeg (1893–1979) which mentioned his work among the Ukrainian refugees (Displaced Persons or DPs) in Britain and  Western Europe. The report was addressed to Cardinal Eugène Tisserant of the Vatican Congregation pro Ecclesia Orientali (today known as the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches).  Kushnir had received and affidavit from his own Bishop, Vasily Ladyka. After arriving in London he received another testimonial letter from the papal representative, Archbishop William Godfrey. This document provided an entré to the offices of Catholic officials and charitable organisations on the European Continent. Kushnir's meeting with Godfrey, which took place on 15 January 1946, was arranged through Vladimir de Korostovetz and Danylo Skoropadsky. They were Orthodox Christians who held the Holy See in high regard and had become Godfrey's principal source on Ukrainian affairs. They were also founding members and founding leaders of AUGB. 

After completing his inspection of the DP camps and settlements in Europe, Kushnir presented a report to Cardinal Tisserant, the excerpts of which concerning Great Britain I reproduce here:

Rome, April 1st 1946            

MEMORANDUM

Re: Mission of Mercy to the displaced Ukrainians in Western Europe by Rev Dr Basil Kushnir, diocesan priest of Ukrainian catholic Diocese in Canada.

 

Your Eminence,

         As delegate of “Ukrainian Canadian Relief Fund” on a special mission of mercy to the displaced Ukrainians in Western Europe, I consider it as my duty to make to Your Eminence a report on conditions of those people living in different countries I visited.

         The Ukrainian Canadians were deeply and justly concerned, for obvious reasons, with the welfare of a large number of Ukrainians displaced and stranded in Western Europe as a result of the war.

         In consequence “The Ukrainian Canadian Relief Fund” of which I am the president, moved by such concern and Christian charity has made preparations and actions taken to render these unfortunates all the material assistance and moral and spiritual guidance withing their power; for that purpose I have been delegated as a messenger of charity in such a mission to Europe.

         My mission has been sponsored by Canadian Government, British Foreign and War Offices, Canadian and International Red Cross Associations and commended by my highest Ecclesiastical Authorities, His Eminence Cardinal Villeneuve of Quebec, my own Bishop Ladyka of Winnipeg and His Excellency Archibishop William Godfrey, Apostolic Delegate in London.

         During my mission from December 23rd 1945 until March 31st 1946, I visited the following countries: Great Britain, Belgium, France, Germany (British and American Zones), and Italy. I have still to visit Switzerland and Austria. [...]

         In Great Britain I started my mission on the 7th day of January 1946. I visited the camps in the neighbourhood of London, the Ukrainian Catholic community in Manchester and the Ukrainians in Polish forces in Edinburgh. The conditions of those people are in moral and physical aspect satisfactory. During the war, it was the Ukrainian Catholic chaplain [Mykhaylo Horoshko] carried out his pastoral duties for Canadian Ukrainians soldiers and for civilians, especially in Manchester. Now, after the demobilisation of the chaplain, the religious care for these people in Great Britain is a problem. While staying in London, I approached the people in authority in British Foreign Office, War Office, and the House of Lords. The purpose of the contact was to create a favourable opinion in regards the DPs, moreso as, at that time, the United Nations Conference was deliberating in London.

As a result of this contact on behalf of the Ukrainians Central Relief Bureau in London, sponsored by Ukrainian Canadian Relief Fund, I presented a memorandum to the Conference asking for DPs the right of asylum and urging [the UN] to denounce forced repatriation as incompatible with the concept of human liberty. This memorandum has been presented also to all the delegations at the conference and to the press. The London press and especially the Catholic press made, in this respect, very favourable comments.

A Report on the inaugural meeting of the AUGB was published in Nash klych, on 9 February 1946, of which an English translation may be found here.

Its is like that the vaguely identified locati0ns spoken of in the report are the following:

The Orthodox was celebrated at "Saint Mary's Cathedral" likely  the Episcopal Church of Scotland. The Greek Catholics celebrated at "the Roman Catholic Church of the Armed Forces" likely Saint Mary's RC Cathedral. Besides Father Kushnir, Rev. Major Hodys, Greek Catholic Chaplain in the Polish Armed Forces, is identified.

The meeting ws held at "the church hall of St. Mary’s Cathedral." There is still some debate as to which St. Mary's because the only existing photograph of the participants appears to have been taken at another location.  Having been elected honorary chair of the meeting, Kushnir's speech on the Canadian involvement and support in founding the AUGB is significant.

Metropolitan Lawrence Huculak

To mark Metropolitan Lawrence Huculak's 75th birthday, Memorable Manitobans (a webpage of the Manitoba Historical Society) has published this short biography, which I put together with the help of my friend and colleague June Dutka, Librarian Emeritus of the University of Manitoba, and Gordon Gainsborough of the MHS. 

Born at Vernon, British Columbia on 25 January 1951, one of six children of Andrew Huculak (1921–1974) of Lanigan, Saskatchewan and Katherine Marcyniuk (1923–2019) of western Ukraine, he attended elementary and secondary schools in Vernon and a final year of high school at Saint Vladimir’s College in Roblin, administered by the Redemptorist Fathers.

On 30 June 1969, he entered the Basilian Order of Saint Josaphat (OSBM). During his candidacy at the Basilian House of Studies in Ottawa, he also studied at the University of Ottawa, completing a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and arts in 1974. On 1 September 1971, he began his novitiate at Saint Josaphat’s Monastery in Glen Cove, Long Island, completing it on 3 September 1972 by professing first temporary vows in the Order. From 1974 to 1977, he studied theology at the Pontifical Athanaeum of Saint Anselmo. During this time, he lived at the nearby Basilian Monastery of Christ the Pantocrator. On 26 June 1977, he made his professed Solemn Perpetual Vows.

Father Lawrence was ordained a priest by Bishop Jerome Chimy on Sunday, 28 August 1977 at Saint James Church in Vernon, attended by his mother, grandparents Dmytro and Maria Marcyniuk of Wynyard, Saskatchewan, his siblings, family, and friends. 

For graduate studies, he attended the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome, specializing in Eastern Christian Liturgical studies. After obtaining a licentiate degree in 1980, he continued with doctoral studies at the same institution. During this time, he served as Basilian student prefect and directed the Basilian choir, which frequently performed on Vatican Radio. He was also responsible for the publication in 1982 of a revised Basilian prayerbook and oversaw the first Ukrainian language texts for Lenten-Easter Divine Praises, translated by Father Porfirio Pidruchny.

On 18 November 1985, Father Lawrence defended his doctoral dissertation on “The Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom in the Kievan Metropolitan Province During the Period of Union With Rome 1596-1839,” under the direction of Archimandrite Robert Taft, SJ. In 1990, it was published as a book by Analecta OSBM.

After returning to Canada in the autumn of 1986, he was stationed at the Basilian Monastery in Mundare, Alberta, where he was named Parish Priest of Saints Peter and Paul Parish on 6 October 1986. He also served as Assistant Master of Novices from 1986 to 1991. On 12 September 1988, he was also given the additional charge of Assistant Superior of the Monastery. On 30 August 1990, he became the Director of the new Basilian Fathers Museum. From 1992, he lectured in Byzantine Liturgy at the Newman Theological College in Edmonton.

Father Lawrence was elected to the Provincial Council of the Basilian Order in Canada in July 1996 and was appointed Master of Novices and Superior of Saints Peter and Paul Monastery in September 1996.

On 16 December 1996 Pope John Paul II appointed him Bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Edmonton. At the time, the Eparchy numbered 30,000 faithful, 89 parishes and churches, 32 eparchial priests and 14 Basilians, with seven retired clergy, eight deacons, and 38 Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate. His episcopal consecration took place on 3 April 1997 at Saint Basil the Great Parish in Edmonton. Metropolitan Michael Bzdel was the principal consecrator with Bishop Severian Yakymyshyn and Bishop Cornelius Pasichny as co-consecrators. Concelebrants included 32 Roman and Ukrainian Catholic bishops and 60 priests. Protoarchimandrite Dionisiy Lachovicz, General Superior of the Basilian Order, served as Archdeacon. His mother and siblings were in attendance, as well as many religious brothers and sisters, and over 1,500 faithful. Bishop Lawrence was installed as Edmonton Eparch Saint at Josaphat’s Cathedral on 6 April 1997.

With episcopal ordination Bishop Lawrence became a member of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB). Here he has served on the Canon Law Commission, the Doctrine Commission, and the Commission for Christian Unity, where he was elected chairperson from 2017-2020. He also represented the CCCB on the Catholic/Anglican Bishops Dialogue, and the Catholic/Orthodox Bishops Dialogue.

As Edmonton Eparch, he was active in ecumenical engagement, hosting the first Ukrainian Catholic-Orthodox dialogue at St. George’s Parish, Edmonton, in December 1999. Bishop Lawrence participated in the Pastoral Visit of Pope John Paul II to Ukraine in June 2001. On 19 November 2002, he performed the solemn consecration of the altar of Saint Josaphat’s Cathedral in Edmonton.

On 9 January 2006, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Huculak Archbishop of the Winnipeg Archeparchy and Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Canada, succeeding Archbishop Michael Bzdel. His installation took place at Saints Volodymyr and Olha Cathedral on 11 February 2006, presided over by Cardinal Lubomyr Husar and concelebrated by eight archbishops, ten bishops, and many priests. His mother and siblings were also present.

As Metropolitan Archbishop of Winnipeg he served ex officio on the Permanent Council of the CCCB. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA). And he is a member of the Governing Board of the Canadian Council of Churches. He is an ex officio member of Holy Family Home’s Board of Directors and an honorary member of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress. In 2018, the same Congress recognized his community leadership with the Bulava Award.

In September 2012, he welcomed Patriarch Sviatoslav Shevchuk and the Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church from around the world to Winnipeg where they held their annual synod meeting. In July 2020, Huculak was appointed as a Member of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity and Inter-religious Dialogue. He also served as Apostolic Administrator of the Saskatoon Eparchy from 28 April 2022 to 21 January 2024. On 10 November 2022 he was given an Auxiliary Bishop in the person of Bishop Andriy Rabiy.

A testimonial banquet celebrating Metropolitan Lawrence’s 75th birthday and 20th anniversary as Metropolitan will be held at the Victoria Inn (1808 Wellington Avenue, Winnipeg) on 14 April 2026.

source:  Lawrence Huculak on Memorable Manitobans