It’s the day of the visit Pope Francis in Verona. Twenty days after the big appointment in Venice and less than two months before the one in Trieste, the Pontiff returned to the Northeast.
A visit, that of Bergoglio to the city of Verona, which will last until late afternoon and which will be punctuated by numerous appointments. The welcome and meeting with priests and consecrated persons in the Basilica of San Zeno, then with children and teenagers. Following this, the Pontiff will preside over the meeting «Arena of Peace-Justice and Peace will kiss» in the Roman amphitheater and will answer some questions from the participants. Lunch in the Montorio prison, then at 3pm mass at the Bentegodi stadium.
The meeting with the clergy and religious
«Dear priests, dear religious men and women, good morning. Thank you for being here. I thank the bishop for his welcome and for all the work he carries out together with you. It is nice to find ourselves in this Romanesque basilica, one of the most beautiful in Italy, which also inspired poets such as Dante and Carducci. And being here together, bishop, priests, religious men and women, and looking at this splendid hulled ceiling makes us feel like we are inside a large boat, and makes us think of the mystery of the Church, the boat of the Lord which sails in the sea of history to bring the joy of the Gospel to all”.
Pope Francis lands in Verona and is welcomed by the authorities
These are the first words spoken by Pope Francis this morning, May 18, upon his arrival in Verona. The opening words of the first of the many events of the day: the meeting with the priests and consecrated people, in basilica of San Zeno.
The Pontiff arrived in Verona at 8, landing in the square adjacent to the Bentegodi stadium. There waiting for him were the bishop of Verona Domenico Pompili, the Venetian president Luca Zaia, the mayor of Verona Damiano Tommasi and the prefect Demetrio Martino.
From France to bring a letter to the Holy Father
The event in the Arena
Ten thousand people for Pope Francis in the Arena for the Arena di Pace event. The blue t-shirts stand out “Moms No Pfas” which are mentioned from the stage to bring the theme of environmental rights and protection to the center of the Holy Father’s visit.
Pope Francis in Verona, the appeal of mothers against Pfas
The entrance of the Holy Father interrupted Don Luigi Ciotti’s speech. A stadium welcome for Bergoglio.
Don Luigi Ciotti in Verona: “We are witnessing the madness of war”
The intervention of Pope Francis
«If the idea we have of leaders is that of a loner called to decide, then we are adopting an impoverished vision, which makes communities and societies sterile. Psychiatrists say that one of the most subtle aggressions is idealization”, said the Pope, after Don Ciotti’s speech.
Pope Francis at the Arena, the welcome is like a stadium
Then followed the speech of the French philosopher Edgar Morin (102 years old), absent at the Arena, but who nevertheless spoke with a video.
Annamaria Panarotto, from the table on the environment: «Here are the no Pfas mothers, who have been working for years against pollution in Veneto. But there can be no peace among human beings if men and women do not make peace with creation. We are here as artisans of peace, but we feel the urgency of forcing politics to give more immediate responses. Pope Francis, I wanted to ask you if you can help us understand what steps to take.”
The Pope: «I’m looking at the sign “Let’s demilitarize while and territory”. In some territories, the companies that generate the most income are weapons factories. In our society we experience the tension between acting quickly and feeling that all this is not natural, but bellicose. There is a tired air in our society».
Pope Francis dedicated a thought to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. «Nothing can be said in the face of the suffering of two peoples. Hugging each other is a project for the future. What’s the point of war?” Pope Francis asked himself, asking for a moment of silence from the faithful gathered at the Arena.
«I think of the Ukrainian children who come to Rome, they don’t know how to smile. I think of the old people, who have worked all their lives to bring these two countries forward, and now they are faced with this historic defeat for all of us. Let us pray for peace.”
“Peace will never be the result of mistrust, of walls, of weapons pointed at each other.” And again: «Saint Paul says: ‘Everyone will reap what he sows’ (Gal 6:7). We do not sow death, destruction, fear. Let’s sow hope! This is what you are doing too, in this Arena of Peace. Don’t stop. Don’t be discouraged. Do not become spectators of the so-called ‘inevitable’ war. As Bishop Tonino Bello said: ‘On your feet, builders of peace!’
Ligabue’s notes
During the meeting on justice and peace in the Arena he also took the stage Luciano Ligabue who sang his “Dreams always shape the world”. The faithful accompanied the rocker from Correggio by singing with him.
Luciano Ligabue sings in front of Pope Francis
The prison visit
After the Arena, Pope Francis visits the Montorio prison where Filippo Turetta, who killed his ex-girlfriend Giulia Cecchettin, is also imprisoned. Chico Forti will also be taken to the same penitentiary.
Bergoglio is welcomed by the director Francesca Gioieni and the director of the Police
Penitentiary, Mario Piramide.
In the prison, Francesco will greet the Penitentiary Police officers, the prisoners and the volunteers and at 1pm he will have lunch with the prisoners.
