«Friends, you will be all the more a presence of Christ the more you know how to embrace and support every brother in need with merciful and compassionate arms, as lay people engaged in the events of the world and of history, rich in a great tradition, trained and competent in what it concerns your responsibilities, and at the same time humble and fervent in the life of the spirit.” In these words Pope Francis’ mandate to the approximately 80,000 members of Catholic Action and sympathizers present in St. Peter’s Square, with their assistants, on the morning of Thursday 25 April for the national meeting With open arms. An exciting start to the XVIII National Elective Assembly and a precious meeting together, finally together, in the square. «Seeing you all here together – children, families, men and women, students, workers, young people, adults and “very adults” (as you call those of my generation) – makes me think of the Synod».
A beautiful image of the synodal Church that of Catholic Action, called to grow in the “culture of embrace”, to renew family and educational relationships, processes of reconciliation and justice, in co-responsibility and communion, to build a future of peace. 219 Italian dioceses attended, plus international representation through the International Forum of Catholic Action. Palestrina and Tivoli were present, with representatives of all sectors and priests.
«Great occasions like this make you think of the beauty of ordinary time, a time in which we try to put things in order!» Don Cyriaque Niyongabo, diocesan assistant of the AC of Palestrina, expresses himself this way and continues: «the extraordinary nature of a similar event is like a gift given to a child who smiles and thanks. It’s like putting on a festive dress, knowing that later you have to get busy again. It’s a pit stop to fill up and resume the race. Today’s event is like a smile from Heaven, a confirmation that we are on the right path, that it is worth committing. It is a confirmation that the Church is a large and beautiful family, that the AC is one of the beautiful and faithful daughters of the Church, a good path to follow to meet our brothers, with open arms!”.
Even in the initial moment of prayer, the general ecclesiastical assistant of the association Msgr. Claudio Giuliodori and then the national president Giuseppe Notarstefano invited us to live the associative experience, in a time of great challenges, in the style of the embrace, with open arms and a smiling face, an expression of gratitude to the Lord, witnesses that the meeting with Risen changes history.
Maria Teresa Ciprari
