MEDIA RELEASE

April 28, 2016

The Archdiocese of Agana was extremely saddened by the actions of the angry mob that appeared at the
Guam International Airport Authority upon the arrival of Professor Giuseppe Gennarini, Mrs. Claudia
Gennarini and Fr. Angelo Poschetti; this is not the warm Hafa Adai Spirit that the Chamorro people are
well-known for, and Archbishop Anthony Sablan Apuron has privately extended a warm welcome to the
Gennarinis and Fr. Angelo. As previously stated by Fr. Edivaldo da Silva Oliveira, the Archdiocese does
not believe that the actions of this angry mob represents the feelings of the vast majority of the Catholics
of Guam.
The Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores Catholic Theological Institute for Oceania (Theological Institute)
is currently offering two courses which are being presented by Cardinal Paul Josef Cordes and Professor
Gennarini.
Cardinal Cordes has held top positions in multiple pontifical councils and congregations, and has been
teaching a 10-Session course on the Theology of the Priesthood, which ends on April 30, 2016, as was
recently reported in the Archdiocesan newspaper, the Umatuna Si Yuos.
Professor Gennarini holds a doctorate in Church History from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome,
and is here to teach a course for the seminarians of the Archdiocese. Professor Gennarini is also a member
of the Board of Guarantors of the Redemptoris Mater Archdiocesan Missionary Seminary of Guam.
In recent days, some of the protestors who appeared at the airport, have also made an appearance at the
Theological Institute, which is also occupied by the seminary. Like any other institute of learning, similar
to the Guam Public School System, the Catholic School system or the University of Guam, interference
with the learning environment of its students cannot be tolerated by the presence and disruption of
protestors. The protestors were requested to immediately leave the premises, and the Guam Police
Department were contacted to ensure that the peace was maintained in light of the obvious concerns raised
by the conduct of this group just a few days earlier.
Fr. Pius Sammut is the Rector of the seminary, and was appointed by Archbishop Anthony Sablan Apuron.
The Rector is responsible for the formation of the seminarians, both spiritually and academically; he is also
responsible for the daily operations of the seminary.
Some questions have been raised about the Archbishops unwillingness to address the concerns of the
protestors. However, the Archbishop completed his pastoral visits of every parish (26 Catholic parishes)
of the Archdiocese of Agana in 2015, and during this time, the Archbishop not only met with many of these
protestors, but allowed the parishioners present to ask questions. Thus, while the Archbishop has not
granted a private meeting to these protestors, the opportunity was given to all Catholics in the Archdiocese
to directly communicate their concerns to the Archbishop.
Finally, on Saturday, April 30, 2016, Cardinal Cordes will be celebrating a special mass in the Dulce
Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica, at 7:30 p.m. This special celebration is open to the public and all are
welcome.