Arena of Peace: with Pope Francis Verona takes a stand against all wars

Pope Francis in Verona: from the Arena of Peace to the many meetings

“Justice and peace will kiss” is an expression of the biblical Psalm 85 which as a whole describes a story of rediscovered love between God and the people, also emblem of every relationship that is reunited. It all begins with an act of forgiveness, which allows a kiss and a union of peace from which a new life in justice is born.

These topics will be discussed on May 18th through different languages and ways, so that it is truly a day in which we talk about peace and, indeed, justice. They are realities that have crossed the history and spirituality of Church of Veronaas evidenced by some sermons of the patron saint San Zeno, the many men and women who, in the name of Christ, have witnessed and lived social commitment, founders of many Institutes, many of which with a charitable and missionary vocation.

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Next May 18th all this will be expressed in moments of prayer, celebration, reflection and discussion with Italian popular movements and the world of associations, of dialogue between the Holy Father and the world of prison.

The organizing committee wanted “justice and peace” not to be just words, theoretical themes or a wish for the future that day, but also to be the coordinates for some choices. This is why this little slogan “Justice SIA” was coined where the verb becomes effective in a day that can be Safe, Inclusive, Welcoming.

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The program of Pope Francis’ visit to Verona

San Zeno

Everything will begin in front of the patron saint San Zeno because it is the place where we find the roots of ecclesial life and of the entire community of Verona. In fact, all the people of Verona look to this Shepherd, originally from Mauritania, also for his proverbial smile, a sign of divine and human benevolence. The priests, the representatives of consecrated life, including the cloistered nuns, who daily in prayer support the life of the Church and live intercession for all, will pray before him.

In Piazza San Zeno, Pope Francis will meet the almost 7 thousand children and young people accompanied by parents and catechists. The Diocesan youth pastoral centre will take care of the animation with the support of Acr Band, N-Joy And Corodoro of Legnago.

The theme of the day “Justice and peace will kiss” is expressed for the little ones through a contest that was launched a few months ago and which collected various contributions from all over Verona and the province: parishes and schools got busy not only to prepare for this event, but to reflect and express the theme of peace in everyday life.

Some of the works arrived during the morning will therefore be shown and when Pope Francis leaves the Basilica he will greet the children and stop for a few moments to talk with them.

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Attention to prison

Of great importance for the entire visit is the role that the prison will have, not only because Pope Francis will visit around midday Montorio district house (Vr) and will stop for lunch with the inmates, but also because it was chosen to enhance the facility’s craft workshops. In fact, the wooden arrangements, arranged on the stage of the Peace Arena, are produced in the carpentry shop that Reverse Cooperative Social enterprise has been managing inside 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.

This is a prison economy project dedicated to the training and job placement of people currently detained with the aim of spreading skills, dignity of work, self-confidence and the ability to work in a team. All decisive tools for building a future of well-being for society and for reducing the phenomenon of recidivism.

Furthermore, the hosts that will be used during the Holy Mass at the stadium are handmade by prisoners in Castelfranco Emilia (MO), thanks to a project by New Days Cooperative.

Pentecost celebration at the Bentegodi stadium

The last act of the visit will be the pre-Pentecost Eucharistic concelebration at the Bentegodi stadium, where 30 thousand faithful are expected.

The Eucharistic liturgy at the Stadium will take into account the theme of “justice and peace”, also in some particular aspects: for example, the vestments for the priests are made with recycled material and made with the help of fragile people; the various readers of the prayers of the faithful, as well as the people who will bring the gifts to the offertory, will represent the different faces of the Church of Verona and particular attention to some realities of disability; particular attention will be paid to people with disabilities also thanks to the collaboration with Unitalsi Verona.

The Mass will begin at 3pm, but will be preceded by a time of animation and reflection coordinated by the Center for pastoral care for adolescents and young people by title “Making peace takes courage”.

The 3800 teenagers and young people present on the stadium lawn will be the first recipients and protagonists of this entertainment proposal which will be structured with the music of Cpag bandsupported by Tribe gospel singersschool dances Urban Dancefloorinterspersed with the reading of some passages taken from the speeches of Pope Francis, by a moment of valorisation of disabled children, with the proposal of a ballet by theAsd The great challengeand the story of a touching testimony by Kevin Alexander Mijares Figueroa on the topic of forgiveness.

Arena of Peace

One of the most anticipated events of the day will be the Peace Arena, which will take place from 9am to 12.30pm and has been 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, in addition to being proclaimed is 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 Francis will participate in Peace Arena 2024 from 10.15am for about an hour and will answer some questions which emerged from the working tables that met in recent months to explore five thematic areas closely linked to the theme of the day “Justice and peace will kiss”. In fact, the meeting on Saturday 18 May, in which numerous Italian and international popular movements will take part, is only the culmination of a process of in-depth analysis, dialogue and discussion on “Migrations”, “Integral ecology and lifestyles”, “Work , economics and finance”, “Rights and democracy”, “Disarmament”.

In Verona, from Friday 17 May at the fair, popular movements will converge, which with their practices and ability to weave relationships from below rebuild communities, promote conviviality and fight for the dignity of life. Those that Francis defines as “social poets”, indicating them as the only hope for the ecological conversion that humanity needs. They are not avant-gardes, but societies in motion. Realities that imagine an alternative present under the banner of the motto “justice and peace will kiss” which inspires Pope Francis’ entire visit to Verona.

The bishop Domenico Pompili he anticipated that, during the morning, there will be a double connection with the Holy Landone in Israel and one in the West Bank, to symbolically bring together Israelis and Palestinians for a sign of hope.

They will lead the Arena morning Riccardo Iacona presenter of Direct Intake, Greta Cristinireporter and geopolitical analyst, Marino Sinibaldijournalist, literary critic and radio host.

Together with the historical faces of Arena di pace come father Alex Zanotelli And Don Luigi Ciottithere will be numerous important activists who will bear their testimony in the Scaliger amphitheatre, among these:

Vanessa NakateUgandan activist, known for her commitment to promoting policies to combat climate change;
Mahbouba Seraj, Afghan journalist and women’s rights activist, candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize;
Joao Pedro StedileBrazilian economist and social activist, founder of Brazilian popular movements;
Andrea RiccardiItalian historian, politician and activist, founder of the Community of Sant’Egidio in 1968;

Among the artists, there will be:

Heviathe greatest bagpipe player in the world;
Alessandro Bergonzonitightrope walker of the word;
Matteo Martarileading actor in fiction and films;
Mikhail Pavlovich Shishkin, considered one of the greatest contemporary Russian authors; winner of the Europe witch prize, living in exile in Switzerland;
Elvira MujicSerbian author;
Chris ObehiNigerian singer who arrived in Italy with one of the many boats crossing the Mediterranean;
Erica Boschierosinger-songwriter committed to environmental issues;
Felicity Lucchesiyoung Italian-Australian singer and pianist;
Adriana Lea singer who is appearing on increasingly international stages;
Mosaikamulti-ethnic musical project;
Choir of the Popular University of Treviso;
AsOnea young emerging band from Verona (they will be the opening act of the day);
Masala and Foresta vocal duo that is making a name for itself on the national scene;
Anna and the apartmentsinger-songwriter winner of many national awards;
The choreographies will be curated by Sisina Augusta Companychoreographer who has danced all over the world;
The musicians will be part of the resident band Sbibupercussionist, Daniele Rotunnopianist, Emanuele Zanfretta, flutist, who will perform some songs and accompany the artistic performances throughout the day.