Late this morning, the reception center managed by the Community of Sant’Egidio hosted the Christmas lunch for the poor and needy. The cardinal almoner’s invitation to pray for Gaza, Ukraine and for all the countries in the world where reconciliation is still far away
Isabella Piro – Vatican City
The flavor of welcome, the scent of hope, the goodness of charity: these were the “ingredients” of the Christmas lunch held this morning, 25 December, at Palazzo Migliori, the reception center managed by the Community of Sant’Egidio with the contribution of the Apostolic Charity, a stone’s throw from the Vatican.
Stay with the Lord
On the solemnity of the Birth of the Lord and in the Holy Year of hope, around a hundred people in difficulty, including some homeless, were able to receive a hot meal, a kind word, a look of care and attention. To all of them, as well as to the various volunteers present, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the Pope’s almoner, addressed his greeting: “We thank the Lord who wants to be with us. Our job is to be with Him, not to distance ourselves – he said -. But above all we pray for peace, which is truly lacking in the world today”.
Peace begins from the heart
The cardinal also recalled the fact that “peace begins with us, from our heart, from our life and from our testimony”. Hence – in the wake of what Leo XIV said shortly before during the Urbi et Orbi message – the invitation to pray “especially for those who live in Gaza, in Ukraine, for many countries, especially in Africa, and for all those who are alone today”. “Let us pray together asking for the intercession of the Madonna. She knows what it means to rejoice and suffer”, added the cardinal. Finally, thanks to the many volunteers “who today are not with their families, but are with us and in this way we become their family”.
The lunch guests
Hope and charity
After the introductory prayer of the cardinal almoner, on the tables set with red tablecloths and Christmas dishes, the guests consumed various courses from the menu: lasagne, meatloaf with puree, seasonal fruit, pandoro and panettone. Young and old men and women, coming from places and countries near and far, but all united by the thread of hope and charity.
