The funeral Mass of Monsignor Henry Padilla was held on Thursday, September 12, 2019, at 12:00 m. at La Caridad del Cobre Church, in Santa Paula, Caracas, with the music of the Betania Choir. Mons. Padilla was a very humane priest, he showed deep Christian piety, loved ecclesial liturgy and was very close to the Bianchini family, the Betania Choir and the Betania Foundation. The Eucharist was presided by Cardinal Emeritus Jorge Urosa Savino and was attended by a hundred clergy – bishops and priests – and countless parishioners.
During his homily, Cardinal Urosa said: “Today, of course, we feel very sad due to the death of our dear brother Henry, but at the same time we are comforted in the resurrection to new life. We know that we have a living faith. The gift of our faith is something extraordinary. Faith gives us the correct vision of what the human being is: a person created in the image and likeness of Jesus Christ, called to be an eternal son of God, to go beyond the level of being a mere human to be wonderful child of God called to share a divine life.”
Before Mass, the leader of the Betania Choir, Prof. Maria Auxiliadora Bianchini Leon, greatly affected by his passing, told the members of the choir that when they called her to participate in this Mass, they told her that on Monsignor Padilla’s desk, in his agenda it said, under the date of September 11, the day of Our Lady of Coromoto and of his passing: Call the Betania Choir. This has touched her deeply, but despite her grief, with faith and confidence she expressed: “Let us be happy because Our Lady embraced him and took him on the day of the Virgin of Coromoto. Our Lady of Coromoto, patroness of Venezuela, cover us with your mantle and give us your blessing, and lead Monsignor Padilla to Heaven. Amen. So, let us be happy, glad to be able to show our support to our Church and to someone who quietly gave of himself so much.”
On August 7, 2019, during the Mass to commemorate the passing of the Servant of God Maria Esperanza Bianchini, Monsignor Padilla said some beautiful words to the Betania Foundation that will always be engraved in their hearts: “Proud and with much joy of being able to welcome this large family of Maria Esperanza, whose work and dedication brings forth this new environment, a Christian and accessible environment, a family atmosphere, my congratulations to you. May the intercession of Maria Esperanza embrace Venezuela so it may regain peace, tranquility and freedom, which only may come from Jesus Christ, Our Lord.”
After Holy Mass, priests and parishioners went to the pantheon of the Archdiocese of Caracas, in the Eastern Cemetery for the funeral. Rest in peace.
