【慈幼通訊社 ─ 2010年1月4日智利康塞普西翁訊】 ─ 2009年12月31日，智利報章「El Sur」刊登了慈幼會會士康塞普西翁地區總主教Ricardo Ezzati榮膺「本國人」組別「當年傑出人物」的消息。

根據報紙報導，投票數字為歷年最高，超過66,000人投票，其中44%選擇了Ezzati總主教。結果與「El Sur」記者經批判分析後所選出的一致。

年終彌撒中，當總主教獲悉投票結果時，他誠懇地吐露心聲說：「全面及全方位的發展需藉著一個人內心的發展而取得進展，如今我認為人們的這個選擇，是對我一個很強烈的呼召。我相信它展示人們對靈性有很大的渴望；主教沒有政治或經濟權力，但他確有禮物餽贈給人，這就是福音的喜訊，上主的恩寵。這些都是內在生命的及靈性的文化的一部份。」

感恩祭完畢後，Ezzati總主教向其他人致候，他以個人名義向他的助理致意及對傳媒宣稱「我希望本國的民選當權者會關注全智利人民全面的福利。」

Archbishop Ricardo Ezzati “Person of the Year” 

(ANS – Chile –Concepción, 4 January 2010 ) – On 31 December the Chilean newspaper “El Sur” published the choice of Archbishop Ricardo Ezzati SDB Archbishop of Concepción, as “Person of the Year” in the category “People of this Country.”

According to the paper the number of votes reached an all-time high level of over 66,000 of which 44% were in favour of Archbishop Ezzati. The results were also accompanied and confirmed by a critical analysis  by the journalists of “El Sur” who arrived at the same choice.

During the Mass for the end of the year, having been informed of the result, the Archbishop confided to the faithful: “Full all-round development has to progress by way of the interior development of a person, and today I feel this selection to be a very strong call addressed to me. I believe it indicates a great thirst among people for spirituality; the Bishop has no political nor economic power; but he does have a gift to offer to the people, the gift of the Gospel, the gift of the grace of the Lord, which is part of the culture of the interior life and of spirituality.”

After the thanksgiving, Archbishop Ezzati offered his greetings to everyone, and personally greeted his assistants and addressed the media saying: “It is my hope that the authorities who will be elected in our country will take into account the total welfare of all the people of Chile.”