Br. Leone Morelli, Officer in the National Order of Merit
March 30 , 1999
 On the evening of March 30, 1999, Brother Leone Morelli received, from the French Ambassador to the Holy See, M. Jean Geuguinou, the medal of Officer in the National Order of Merit. The Ambassador knows well the works of the Brothers in the Holy Land. He is a member of the International Board of Regents of Bethlehem, and visited the Casa Generalizia in that capacity in January, 1999.
M. Gueguinou cited two reasons which led the French government to accord this decoration to an Italian brother, and through him, to recognize the actions of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools in service of the Church, and often, in service of French culture on five continents.
Initially, Brother Leone Morelli presided over an association, recognized by the French and Italian governments, which addressed the teaching of the children of Italian emigrant families in France. In a particular way, he assisted in the recruitment and spiritual formation of Italian teachers of the association.
 When he later became the Postulator General, he brought to term several processes of beatification of French Brothers, among whom were Br. Arnould Rèche and the Brother martyrs do pontons près de Rochefort. The Ambassador also noted the beatification of Jean-Bernard Rousseau, Brother Scubilion, of the Island of Reunion, in the presence of M. Michel Rocard, former Prime Minister.
In his word of thanks, Br. Leone mentioned the excellent reception that he had always received from the French authorities, at all levels of contact. He also thanked the Brother Superior General, the Brother Vicar General, and the many Brothers of the Casa Generalizia, as well as members of his family who were present for the ceremony.
A "Wine of Honor" followed the ceremony, followed by a dinner hosting Ambassador Gueguinou and Monsignor Terrancles, the ecclesiastical counselor to the Embassy.  |
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