ROMA (ITALPRESS) – “It has been eight hundred years since the death of St. Francis, patron of Italy along with another great saint, Catherine of Siena”. This was said by the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, speaking in Assisi at the ceremony on the occasion of the National Day of St. Francis, on the eighth centenary of death. “The temporal distance that separates us from that event – he continues – has in no way reduced his charm and charism, which lives far beyond the borders of Italy and Christianity itself, of which he is a son and an eminent figure. Prophet of peace, love, respect for the Creation, his teaching is universal heritage for women and men of all times and of all latitudes, believers or non-believers, Christians or faithful of other religions.”.
“Today terrible conflicts ensues so many parts of the world, and even some parts of the world come back to bless the weapons and put the armies under religious signs: Francis teaches us that there is no greater guilt than killing other men in the name of God,” he added.
“In the eleventh song of Paradise Dante speaks of Francis as a sun for the whole world, so much so that Assisi should be called as ascesis, as an East,” he added. “In these times marked by insensitive and cruel wars, by so much violence, manipulation, arrogance, as Leo XIV said – he continues – the hope is that the sun of Francis can illuminate the world, convert the minds hardened by hatred, indicate the way of peace, hope, fraternal serene coexistence.”.
“His poverty, so sought and desired, was a concrete break with the idolatry of money; his humility had nothing naive, was born from a demanding thirst for truth; his obedience was not remissivity, but a laborious, thoughtful search for the higher reasons of the unity of the Christian people and of the Church.” “To remember, today, the teaching of Francis to the contemporary world – he adds – means to shed light on some very current foundations also of his preaching: the dignity of every person, the respect of Creation, peace.”.
MELONI “L’ITALIA RENDE OMAGGIO A UNO DEI SUOI FIGLI PIU’ GRANDI”
“Today is a feast day, for Italy and the Italians. Today we celebrate our Patron, St. Francis, “the most loving, the most poetic and the most Italian of our saints”“. So in a statement the President of the Council, Giorgia Meloni. “Today – he continues – we remember a man who left everything to find everything, a Saint who taught the world the joyous simplicity of love, an Italian who forged the identity of an entire people. Today, Italy pays tribute to one of its greatest children, witness to a universal message that has crossed generations and that will continue to illuminate our journey”.
– photo of repertoire Quirinale –
(ITALPRESS).
