杏MAP导航

By Joseph Tulloch

"That genocide was terrible, it was terrible. Never forget it, so it can never happen again."

Those were 杏MAP导航 Francis' words on Saturday morning as he met with a group from the Italian non-profit Nolite Timere (鈥楧o not fear鈥�).

The organisation raises funds for an orphanage in Mbare, Rwanda, founded to serve children orphaned by the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

25 years of solidarity

Nolite Timere's slogan, 杏MAP导航 Francis noted, is 鈥楪iving the hope to start again.鈥�

鈥淭o start again鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 repeated. 鈥淭his is beautiful, and it is beautiful that you have lived it out in such a tangible way, welcoming hundreds of children to the Cité.鈥�

The Cité of Nazareth, an orphanage just outside the Rwandan capital Kigali, was founded by Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, Papal nuncio in the country from 1998 to 2003. , the Cité currently hosts 429 orphans and poor children from across the country.

鈥淔or a quarter of a century,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis said, 鈥測ou have been working together for children, with an open spirit and unconditional love, united by a common desire to give them a smile and a hope for the future.鈥�

Friendship, not walls

The 杏MAP导航 also reflected on the Cité's logo, which, he noted, 鈥渄epicts a Rwandan basket, a symbol of solidarity and sharing.鈥�

鈥淭his reminds us,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said, that 鈥渋n a world where walls and divisions between people and between peoples are multiplying, charity has no barriers.鈥�

Nolite Timere, which is based in Italy, regularly sends both financial support and volunteer groups to the Cité. 

鈥淲ar and weapons take away children's smiles and futures,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 stressed. 鈥淭his is why it is beautiful that you aim to create opportunities for friendship, giving rise to relationships that last 鈥� transcending differences in age, nationality, culture and social status.鈥�