Was presented today at the press conference the program of Pope Francis’ visit to Verona in the city of Verona Saturday 18 May, which has as its theme “Justice and peace will kiss”verse from the biblical Psalm 85.
Everything will begin in front of the patron saint San Zeno: in the square of the same name the Pope will meet almost 7 thousand children and young people accompanied by parents and catechists. The diocesan youth pastoral center will take care of the entertainment with the support of Acr Band, N-Joy and Corodoro di Legnago.
Of great importance to the entire visit is the role that the prisonnot just because Francesco will visit around midday at the Montorio prison (Vr) and will stop for lunch with the inmatesbut also why it was decided to enhance the structure’s artisan workshops. In fact, the wooden installations, arranged on the stage of the Peace Arena, are produced in the carpentry that Reverse Cooperativa Impresa sociale has managed within the Verona prison since 2016. The installations are made with natural materials, using wood coming from production waste and from a controlled supply chain and are designed so that they can be reused. The themes of inclusion and respect are also taken up in the selection for the fabrics chosen for the seat cushions, created by the Quid project, a cooperative dedicated to sustainable fashion and social inclusion, which was involved in the tailoring workshop inside the House Montorio district. The hosts that will be used during the mass at the stadium are handmade by prisoners in Castelfranco Emilia (MO), thanks to a project by the Cooperativa Giorni Nuovi.
The last act of the visit will be the pre-Pentecost Eucharistic concelebration at the Bentegodi stadium, where 30 thousand faithful are expected. The mass will begin at 3pmbut it will be preceded by a time of animation and reflection coordinated by the Center for pastoral care for adolescents and young people entitled “It takes courage to make peace”. They will be right the 3800 teenagers and young people present on the stadium lawn the first recipients and protagonists of this animation proposal which will be structured with the music of Cpag band, supported by Tribù gospel singers, the dances of the Urban Dancefloor school, interspersed with the reading of some songs taken from the speeches of Pope Francis, a moment of valorisation of disabled children, with the proposal of a ballet by the ASD The Great Challenge, and the story of a touching testimony by Kevin Alexander Mijares Figueroa on the theme of forgiveness.
One of the most anticipated events of the day will be “Arena of Peace”, which will take place from 9am to 12.30pm and was conceived not only as a great meeting moment for Italian popular movements, but also as an opportunity for an artistic-cultural meeting, in which peace is not only proclaimed but also shared. However, the appointment in the Scaliger amphitheater is only one stage of a process that has developed over the decades starting from the 1980s and which will continue even after May 18th. Pope francesco will participate in “Arena di pace 2024” from 10.15am for about an hour And will answer some questions that emerged from the working groups met in recent months to delve deeper into five thematic areas closely linked to the theme of the day: migrations; integral ecology and lifestyles; work, economics and finance; rights and democracy; disarmament. Among the guests were Father Alex Zanotelli, Don Luigi Ciotti, Andrea Riccardi, Vanessa Nakate, Mahbouba Seraj, Joao Pedro Stedile.
Bishop Domenico Pompili anticipated that, during the morning, there will be a double connection with the Holy Landone in Israel and one in the West Bank, “to be able to symbolically bring together Israelis and Palestinians for a sign of hope”.
Source: Sir
