At this meeting, there was once again talk of peace and hope as the path to overcoming the numerous conflicts that are raging in various parts of the world, beginning with the Holy Land and the tormented Ukraine. The occasion was provided by the national meeting of Italian Catholic Action, which on April 25 - the Day of the Liberation of the Italian People from Nazism and Fascism - wanted to gather around Pope Francis in an event entitled "The Liberation of the Italian People from Nazism and Fascism".Open arms".
The initiative was intended as a preview of the XVIII National Assembly of the historic Italian entity, founded in 1867, and was attended by some 80,000 affiliates and supporters from all over the country and of all ages, who gathered in St. Peter's Square to receive the greeting, encouragement and blessing of Pope Francis.
"It is in this world and in this time that we are called to be, by virtue of the baptism we have received, active subjects of evangelization; we are missionary disciples of a Lord who gave his life for the world. Ours too cannot but be given in turn," said Monsignor Claudio Giuliodori, CA ecclesiastical assistant, at the opening of the event.
Hug culture
In line with the theme of the event, Pope Francis stressed in his speech the importance of cultivating a "culture of embrace" to overcome all those behaviors that, among other things, also lead to wars: distrust of the other, rejection and opposition that turn into violence. Missed or rejected hugs, prejudices and misunderstandings that make the other see the other as an enemy.
"And all this is unfortunately before our eyes these days, in too many parts of the world! With your presence and your work, instead, you can witness to everyone that the way of embrace is the way of life," Francis said.
Hence the invitation to the people of Catholic Action to be "the presence of Christ" in the midst of needy humanity, "with merciful and compassionate arms, as lay people involved in the events of the world and of history, rich in a great tradition, trained and competent in what concerns your responsibilities, at the same time humble and fervent in the life of the spirit".
Only in this way will you be able to sow seeds of change consistent with the Gospel that will have an impact "at the social, cultural, political and economic level in the contexts in which you act".
Another invitation of the Pope referred to the collaboration of all the people of Catholic Action - children, families, men and women, students, workers, youth and adults - to commit themselves actively to the synodal journey, in order to finally realize the expression of a Church that uses "synodal men and women, who know how to dialogue, interrelate, search together".
Holy Land in the spotlight
The day opened with a video message from Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, who, thanking those present for shining a light of reflection on the importance of peace, acknowledged that "we must avoid a repetition in the world of the division we already have here" in the Holy Land. One thinks, for example, of the numerous polarizations, of some against others, through a simplification that does not help to grasp the complexity of reality, of how important it is, instead, to "build relationships" instead of "erecting barriers".
"It is very painful to see how this war has affected everyone's soul, their confidence and their belief that something can still be done in this drift of violence that seems to never end," the cardinal added. What can be done? "The first thing to do is to pray, then it is important to talk about the Holy Land, not to let attention fall on this conflict that is tearing apart the lives of these peoples," and consequently "the life of society in so many other parts of the world." Because "when the heart suffers, the whole body suffers".
Towards a pastoral care of peace
In relation to these themes, Cardinal Pizzaballa himself will deliver a "lectio magistralis" at the Pontifical Lateran University on May 2, as part of the course on the Theology of Peace, entitled "Characteristics and Criteria for a Pastoral Care of Peace".
