Those who know me know about my admiration for Saint Francis of Assisi. I express and expose it at every opportunity that deserves it. The son of a wealthy family in this small town in the province of Perugia, Francis decided to part with his father’s wealth and give himself completely to God: he embraced poverty and lived an evangelical life, every Preached the love of God to someone. Their simplicity, their humility, their faith and their love for Christ allowed them to live life with joy and as an enduring celebration of the magnificence of creation. It was for this reason that Pope Gregory IX decided to canonize him and from there on ensure that his legacy transcends his time, becoming a timeless model and a figure valued throughout the world, a symbol of Christian spirituality. .
I believe that no one can deny or argue that today, nearly 800 years after his death, his legacy is still valid and his philosophy of life remains an example to many. It is not a fact or a minor detail that our current Supreme Pontiff has chosen the same name to represent: it was because of the same humility, the same penitential life and the same deep devotion to the poor. Like Saint Francis of Assisi.
A few weeks ago I had to experience two very emotional moments. On the one hand, the Pontificia University Antonianum in Rome decided to award me the San Francesco Prize, a prize awarded to writers who promote the scientific study of law, philosophy, Mariology, Scripture and theology, as well as evangelicals. Are. Value. , This was the first time that the institution recognized a person by his mannerisms. Promoted by the Order of Friars Minor, an institution with more than a hundred years of history that has infused the Franciscan spirit into my way of life, it is a commitment to me and an incentive to continue working and deepening this path. Every day and in everything I do, I try to express the love that can only be taught by example.
A few days after that recognition, and the place deserves attention, we promoted in Assisi a symbolic embrace for universal brotherhood, with the simple purpose of promoting peace and love among all the inhabitants of the planet. It seemed necessary to begin this proposal which will continue in various cities of the world, that this first meeting be held there, neither more nor less, in the place where he received his Christian vocation and where Saint Francis died: The Porcincula of the Sanctuary of Santa Maria. Angels. It is difficult to put into words the feelings that arise from seeing dozens of youth committed to a single cause, unknown young people, of all ethnic groups, in search of a world without war, where peace and love reign among people .
So many years of history, development, technological development and telecommunication… so many years of preaching peace and there are still wars in the world. Responsible people do not pay attention to the consequences that it brings to our planet: hunger and poverty affecting the whole world. This is going to hurt us. We are all part of one entity and the more we are in touch with our inner being, the more we feel that we are all part of a whole. Consequently, the more damage we do, the worse we do ourselves.
Saint Francis of Assisi is also known for being the patron saint of ecology. They taught us that we must take care of our common home: planet Earth. But that care includes not only nature, but primarily man, man. And it is received in peace. We must commit to building a better world, not only for those who live in it today, but for generations to come. Let’s think about them. A world without wars is possible.
