By Our Own Correspondent

Rome, Italy, 27 June 2019 -- Salesian Cardinal Raphael Farina received the Order of the Rising Sun - Gold and Silver Star, in the Japanese Embassy to the Holy See in Rome, conferred by the Emperor of Japan in recognition for his contribution to boosting relations and strengthening friendly ties between Japan and the Holy See.

The Certificate of this Honour is decorated with the Japanese State and Prime Minister Seals, dated on the 21st day of the 5th month, First Year of Reiwa Era (2019). The Rector Major, Fr Angel F. Artime was also present for the occasion with his Vicar, Fr Francesco Cereda. The ceremony was conducted by the Ambassador of Japan to the Holy See, Mr Yoshio Matthew Nakamura. As Cardinal Farina shares, "the Japanese Embassy has in some way become my home".

In his acceptance - thanksgiving address, Cardinal Farina (85 years old) shared his 46 year-long relationship with Japanese friends and benefactors, from the time when he was Dean of Theology at the Salesian Pontifical University in Rome (UPS). Over the past 45 years, Cardinal Farina visited Japan many times, and in this thanksgiving address shared his 2013 visit for the 100th Anniversary of Sophia University, at which the former Emperor Akihito was also present.

The Rising Sun is one of Japan’s highest honours. The Vatican's Archivist and Librarian emeritus Cardinal Farina worked for many years to boost relations at a personal and also institutional level. His contribution was particularly important in the reorganisation of the historical documents of the Edo period, including those related to the ban on Christianity in the Bungo region, collected by Salesian missionary Fr Mario Marega. The Marega Papers are a collection of about 10,000 documents which describe the presence and persecution of Japan’s Catholic community, covering a period that goes from the 17th to the 19th century.

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