VATICAN CITY, JULY 23, 2004 (Zenit.org).- The Holy See has awarded the Costa Crociere cruise-ship company for promoting the Apostleship of the Sea.
On July 16, Cardinal Stephen Fumio Hamao, president of the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Travelers, conferred a medal on Pier Luigi Foschi, president and administrator delegate of the company, one of the most important in that sector.
The occasion was the 70th anniversary of the activity of Catholic chaplains on the ships of the Costa Crociere (Coast Cruisers) firm.
With the award, the pontifical council acknowledges «the concrete spirit of collaboration that the company has shown in the course of those years with the Apostleship of the Sea.»
«This care for the person, at a time when only the profit motive and the market seem to be the models followed by financial agents, is worthy of being especially highlighted,» Cardinal Hamao said during the ceremony to confer the medal.
Foschi thanked the pontifical council for «the important pastoral work carried out on board its ships during these years.»
The presence of the chaplains, «apostles of the sea,» on the company’s ships goes back to 1934. They look after the spiritual well-being of the crew and passengers, as well as promote good relations with passengers of other religions.
