The Radiologist, the Bishop, and the War: From the Archives of Bishop Česlaǔ Sipovič – Francis Skaryna Belarusian Library and Museum Document from the Archives of Bishop Sipovich, discovered and described by priest Ihar Labacevič moving 1960 letter written by a prominent Italian radiologist, Prof. Attilio Romanini of Milan, reveals a poignant connection to the turmoil of World War II and the subsequent fate of Belarus. Romanini wrote to inquire if the “Excellency” he had read about in the Assisi publication “LA ROCCA” was, in fact, his old, long-lost pen pal. A Friendship Forged in Latin: Romanini recalled that in 1938–1939, while he was a student in Pavia, he engaged in correspondence, written entirely in Latin, with Česlaǔ Sipovič (whom Romanini recalled as a student from Wilna). Sipovič was actually a seminary student, pursuing philosophical and theological studies in Vilnia and then Rome during this period. The intellectual exchange was brutally interrupted by the war. Romanini preserved the last postcard he ever received from the young Česlaǔ. After the occupation of his city, the message captured the tragedy of the era in a brief, powerful phrase: “vivo, patria mea plorat…” (I am alive, my homeland weeps…) From Pen Pal to Bishop: Romanini wrote his letter 21 years later, expressing both his “affectionate memory” and his deep sorrow for his friend’s uncertain fate. He concluded by expressing his hope that the recipient, Česlaǔ Sipovič, was indeed his old friend, and that the “apostolate that awaits” him meant he had found a happier destiny. In a remarkable convergence of timelines, Bishop Česlaǔ Sipovič was appointed Titular Bishop of Mariamme in 1960 – the very year Romanini wrote his letter – confirming the doctor’s fervent well-wishes for his “apostolate.” The correspondence, therefore, not only bridged a 21-year silence but also confirmed that the student who had lamented the loss of his homeland had risen to become the first Belarusian Greek Catholic bishop appointed since the 1830s. Tags from the story Архівы Скарынаўкі біскуп Чэслаў Сіповіч 0 replies on “The Radiologist, the Bishop, and the War: From the Archives of Bishop Česlaǔ Sipovič” Language Language