“May the awareness of the value of Rome be reborn in everyone, of the symbol that it represents on all continents; and may the mutual effective collaboration between all the powers that reside there be confirmed, indeed grow, for a choral and constant action, which makes it even more worthy of the role that destiny, or rather Providence, has reserved for it”. Thus Pope Francis in his speech in the Capitoline Hill before the Capitoline Assembly (VIDEO). “Continue Rome – urged Francis – to show her true face, a welcoming, hospitable, generous, noble face. The enormous influx of pilgrims, tourists and migrants into the City, with all that it means in terms of organisation, could be seen as an burden, a burden that slows down and hinders the normal flow of things. In reality, all this is Rome, its specificity, unique in the world, its honor, its great attraction and its responsibility towards Italy, towards the Church, towards the human family”.
The value of the capital
“Each of its problems – he highlighted – is the “flip side” of its greatness and, from a crisis factor, can become an opportunity for development: civil, social, economic, cultural. The immense treasure of culture and history nestled on the hills of Rome is the honor and burden of its citizens and its rulers, and awaits to be adequately valued and respected. May the awareness of the value of Rome be reborn in everyone, of the symbol that it represents on all continents; and let the mutual effective collaboration between all the powers that reside there be confirmed, indeed grow, for a choral and constant action, which makes it even more worthy of the role that destiny, or rather Providence, has reserved for it”.
Gulatieri: “Spoke with the Pope about the works for the Jubilee”
At the end of his speech at the Campidoglio, Bergoglio greeted those present and the Romans with a “Goodbye to the Jubilee”. Regarding the event, the mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri, said he had taken stock of the Jubilee works with the Pontiff. “I showed the Pope the fountains in Piazza Pia, he already knew them, it’s not the first time we’ve talked about them. We talked a little about the works, but we didn’t go into detail about the construction sites. We talked more about the big themes of today, we talked about many things”, said Gualtieri. “It was very nice to thank the work we are all doing – he added, without hiding his emotion – not only the mayor commissioner, but all the people who are working so hard. The arrival of millions of pilgrims is a challenge and a responsibility, but also an opportunity.”
