00:00Charles Borromeo, born in 1538 into the Italian nobility, is a major figure of the Counter-Reformation.
00:08Nephew of the future Pope Picatro, he was propelled to the highest offices at a very young age.
00:14At 22, a cardinal and administrator of Milan, without even being a priest.
00:20Far from being superficial, Charles takes his vocation to heart.
00:24He studied, was ordained, and dedicated himself entirely to the reform of the Church.
00:30He played a key role in the final phase of the Council of Trent, helping the Pope to translate its decrees.
00:36concrete actions for a profound renewal.
00:41Having become Archbishop of Milan, Charles Borromeo devoted himself entirely to his diocese, which was then in a pitiful state.
00:48He undertakes a colossal reorganization.
00:52Foundation of seminaries to train priests, emphasis on catechism for all,
00:57tireless visits to parishes, even the most remote in the Alps.
01:03His life was marked by personal austerity, a rejection of luxury, and profound prayer.
01:10He was a pastor close to his people, not hesitating to confront the powerful to defend their rights.
01:16The Church and the needs of the weak.
01:20His most heroic act occurred in 1576, when the plague ravaged Milan.
01:27While many flee, Charles remains.
01:31He organizes relief efforts, sells his personal belongings and those of the Church to buy food and medicine.
01:39Above all, he is present with the sick and the dying.
01:43He personally distributes the sacraments, wearing a simple penitent's robe, going from house to house, risking his life
01:50at every moment.
01:52His courage and charity during this epidemic have made him an eternal symbol of pastoral devotion.
02:00Exhausted by work and the rigors of his life, Charles Borromeo died at only 46 years old, in 1584.
02:09What we remember about him today is the image of a model bishop, a tireless reformer and pastor
02:16of extraordinary charity.
02:19He embodies the spirit of the post-1930s Catholic renewal, a total commitment to the sanctification of the clergy and the people,
02:27ardent apostolic zeal and boundless compassion for the suffering.
02:34His life remains a powerful reminder that true power lies in service and love.
02:40and that a deep faith can transform an entire Church.
