Last April 25th, Pope francesco met around 80 thousand members and friends of theItalian Catholic Action in a celebration that underlined, once again, the friendship between the association and its pastor.
The diocesan Catholic Action of Lecce could not fail to respond to this invitation and so, with almost 500 members and supporters including children, young people, adults and families, they went to Rome, with the enthusiasm and joy of those who go to a long-awaited, important and unrepeatable appointment. In the eyes of each participant you could read the joy and enthusiasm of a meeting that surprises and regenerates every time. These moments, like many others experienced in recent years, are exceptional occasions in which we can deeply experience the associative beauty, the richness of feeling part of a welcoming community, which recognizes each other, which exchanges loving and smiling glances, which embraces each other. Experiences like these involve everyone who is close toB.C, from the smallest to the largest, and allow us to strengthen the authentic relationships that exist within parish associations, the diocesan reality and even beyond. In that sea of crowds tinged with yellow and blue and crossed by flags, white as sails, moved and agitated by a light wind, «I was there!»he writes Pinucciafrom the adult sector of the parish Helper Of Monteroni of Lecce, “in that immense embrace of Bernini’s colonnade, we all hugged each other and not just once, but many times and with people we didn’t even know, because we all felt like brothers.” And then again the testimony of the younger people who have experienced, some for the first time, such an intense embrace of the people, even in even more shared and engaging ways, like the young people of the parishes of San Pietro Vernotico who lived the travel experience together: “It was an honor and a privilege to meet the Holy Father during the national celebration of Catholic Action. The festive atmosphere but at the same time full of spirituality made this meeting an unforgettable moment for all of us”tells Aurorafrom the parish St. John Bosco. To these words are added those of Giulia And Gabriel from the parish Holy Guardian Angels “«The way of‘hug – quoting the Pope – it is the way of life and peace.” A beautiful and important message also for us very young people: l‘friendship, communion, the solidarityà and mutual respect can truly create a better future. And we young people of Catholic Action must and want to be protagonists!”.
It’s nice to also hear the voices of the youngest members of the association, of the many young peopleAcr who participated in this party. From the parish Sant’ Antonio a Fulgentius of Lecce, Alexander says that “it was truly a special time, spending time together, sharing laughter and meaningful conversations,” Anthony claims to have felt it “belonging to a real family, in this memorable adventure”. Also Louiswhich he found “The experience of meeting Pope Francis was magnificent and unforgettable” and finally, Lucia And Ludovico who thank their educators for spending this day together and for having lived one of the best Catholic Action experiences they have had so far.
These and many other passionate testimonies will resonate in these days in the parishes of the diocese, so that the associative passion spreads among the members, without ever tiring of opening our arms to welcome, listen, try to change the lives of those around us, like Pope Francis teaches.
