The Pope on May 18th in Verona, Bishop Pompili ‘great anticipation’

VERONA, 29 APR – “I met the Holy Father in Venice and he said that he will be in Verona, that he will not make any commitments for May 18th and we are waiting for this day”. The bishop of Verona, Domenico Pompili, relied on a joke to underline the anticipation that accompanies the visit of Pope Francis to the city of Verona, the second appointment in Veneto with the Pontiff after yesterday’s visit to Venice. “I saw him well and we said to each other that we are now close to his arrival” explained Mgr. Pompili. “I believe – he added – that it is an important moment to get out of certain somewhat too narrow logics that make war an almost inevitable outcome and instead find the awareness that peace alone is what allows us to move forward”. “But peace must be prepared, much more than war” concluded the bishop of Verona, recalling the appointment – one of the 5 on the agenda during Pope Francis’ visit on 18 May – with the “Arena of Peace”, which in the morning will see also the intervention of the Pontiff. The “Arena of Peace – Justice and Peace will kiss” meeting with the participation of Pope Francis will be broadcast live by Rai. This was announced by the Undersecretary of Culture, Gianmarco Mazzi. “The idea – he explained – is that the event “Arena of Peace – Justice and Peace will kiss”, which has a beautiful title, and at this moment has an exceptional meaning, is to ensure that from the Arena of Verona and from the city which has great international significance, may a message be sent that everyone can see.”