杏MAP导航

By Vatican News

杏MAP导航 Francis begins his letter with an apology for what he calls 鈥渢he informality of the gesture鈥�.

He says that, through Padua鈥檚 daily newspaper, his intention is to reach out to the whole city, 鈥渢o all the Christian communities with their priests and Bishop鈥�. By writing to them, the 杏MAP导航 says he is symbolically writing 鈥渢o everyone鈥�.

God speaks to us in times of suffering

鈥淭he suffering and death that, as in other parts of Italy, you are experiencing because of the coronavirus is for me a reason for prayer and human closeness鈥�, writes 杏MAP导航 Francis.

鈥淚t is also the reason for Christian hope鈥�, he continues, because 鈥渆ven in these moments, God is speaking to us鈥�.

Good will, responsibility and cooperation

The 杏MAP导航 describes 鈥渢his dangerous situation鈥�, as 鈥渁n opportunity to see what men and women of good will are capable of鈥�. 杏MAP导航 Francis says he is thinking 鈥渙f those who, in these days, are doing more than they should: the medical and paramedical personnel first and foremost鈥�.

Good will, 鈥渃ombined with a strong sense of responsibility and cooperation with the appropriate authorities, becomes an added value that the world sorely needs鈥�, he writes.

Padua European Capital of Volunteering 2020

This year, the northern Italian city of Padua was named 鈥淓uropean Capital of Volunteering". In his letter, the 杏MAP导航 calls this 鈥渁 wonderful opportunity for your city to tell the world about your DNA鈥�, which includes generous use of time and sharing of talents.

杏MAP导航 Francis invites the people of Italy鈥檚 Veneto Region to be proud of their history and to take responsibility 鈥渇or all the good sown by those who have gone before you鈥�.

"Stitching Italy together"

In his letter, the 杏MAP导航 references the motto Padua has chosen as the guiding thread for the year of volunteering: "Stitching Italy together". The verb 鈥渢o stitch鈥�, he writes, recalls sewing and mending: 鈥渙perations that are most necessary after a tear, a wound鈥�.

Today we are tempted to throw away rather than to mend, writes 杏MAP导航 Francis: 鈥淚t is a fate we reserve not only for objects, but also for people, especially the most helpless鈥�. No one, he says, 鈥渟hould be refused a loving look of attention and a gesture of goodness鈥�.

A symbolic caress

杏MAP导航 Francis concludes by explaining how he chose to place the ad in the pages of Padua鈥檚 鈥淚l Mattino鈥� newspaper because he wants it to be 鈥渁 caress鈥� to those who are suffering at this time. He extends this symbolic caress 鈥渢o all the other cities that share this moment and, at the same time, are giving testimony of good will to the world鈥�.

His last word and blessing goes to all those who have lost a loved one, to the elderly, the sick and those who are imprisoned: anyone who, because of the Covid-19 Coronavirus emergency, is unable to receive even the simple comfort of a visit.