Franco Pisano

In this time of Lent, Francis invites everyone to rediscover the beauty of simplicity, of reality that "must be united to appearance". "Ask the Lord for strength and go humbly forward, with what you can. But do not disguise your soul, because if disguise your soul, the Lord will not recognize you ".

Memory puts us on the right path. We must "remember to go on; do not forget history: the history of salvation, the history of my life, the history of Jesus with me ". And do not stop, do not go back, do not let ourselves be carried away by idolatry that "is an attitude of the heart, when you prefer this because it is more comfortable for me and not the Lord because you have forgotten the Lord.

The greatest growth in Asia and Africa, respectively of + 1.5% and + 2.5%. America with its + 0.96% is below the world, while Europe is the only continent to have an almost zero trend (+ 0.1%).

On Ash Wednesday, Francis notes that “Outward appearance, money, a career or hobby [. . .] “become idols that enslave us, sirens that charm us and then cast us adrift.” By contrast, “Jesus on the wood of the cross burns with love, and calls us to a life that is passionate for him, which is not lost amid the ashes of the world,” one “that burns with charity and is not extinguished in mediocrity.”

The words of the Our Father who hastens the coming of the Kingdom "are not a threat at all, on the contrary, they are a happy announcement, a message of joy. Jesus does not want to push people to convert by sowing the fear of God's looming judgment or the sense of guilt for the evil committed. Jesus does not proselytize, he simply announces. On the contrary, what He brings is the Good News of salvation ".

In announcing his decision, Francis stressed that the Pacelli Pope fought to "keep the flame of humanitarian initiatives lit during periods of more intense darkness and cruelty, of hidden but active diplomacy, of hope in possible good openings of hearts"

"Gossip, speaking badly of others. This destroys, it destroys the family, it destroys the school, it destroys the workplace, it destroys the neighborhood. Wars begin from the tongue".

John Paul Lederach is a scholar and activist who has worked on peace for decades. His involvement in Nepal, Colombia, Northern Ireland, the Philippines and across Africa has helped to support and encourage peace processes.

Specific issues will be addressed on each day of the event, including episcopal responsibility, accountability, and transparency.

"Is there room for these people in our hearts? Or do we speak of the people, settle our conscience a little by giving alms ". But please do not give too much “because with these social things from the Church", it ends up looking like "a communist party and this hurts us".

Francis celebrated the opening Mass of the ‘Liberi dalla paura’ meeting, which is promoted by Catholic associations dedicated to welcoming and integrating migrants. For the pontiff, “fear is legitimate" vis-à-vis people different from us.” But far too often, we “refuse to encounter the other and raise barriers to defend ourselves.” Instead, we are called to overcome fears to open ourselves to encountering others because “Forsaking encountering [others] is not human.”

Francis spoke today at the opening ceremony of the 42nd session of the Board of Governors of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The eradication of poverty, the fight against hunger and the promotion of food sovereignty will not be possible "without achieving rural development, a development that has been talked about for a long time but that has not come to fruition".