A letter to be delivered to the new Pope with thoughts and reflections on the concept of peace written by the many immigrants present in Italy preceded by a long march of peace that has begun On May 5 at the Central Station of Milan and will end on May 14 in St. Peter’s Square in Rome.
An initiative organized by the writer Eraldo Affinatifounder together with his wife Anna Luce Lenzi school Penny Wirton For the free teaching of the Italian language to migrants, spread today in 65 Italian cities. A journey that has already touched most of Italy, from Milan to Parma, from Bologna to Lucca and which features the immigrants themselves who find in the Italian language the main tool to integrate into our country.
“The idea was born by resuming the letter that on July 29, 1999 was found in the pockets of two African kids who died at the trolley of a plane that started by Guinea Conakry and landed in Brussels. A letter that contained simple requests such as Food, education and healthcare And that 26 years later he returns very current, because the themes remained the same and nothing has changed. So we thought that it was important to collect the words of our immigrants, from Ukraine to Bangladesh, giving voice to those who come from worlds in struggle », explains Eraldo Affinati while with his team he is directed by Lucca at the Celolle monastery. From there it will continue to Siena, then Chianciano Terme, Viterbo and finally Rome where the new Pontiff will receive the letter.
“Reflection on the theme of peace cannot be an exclusive of politicians or television programs, Pope Francis has given us inheritance a meaning of prophetic peace And his voice on this theme has been very authentic », adds Affinati that a collective writing system is inspired by the letter, dear to Don Milani. On the prior of Barbiana Affinati wrote two books The man of the future (Mondadori) and the Dream of another school (the steam boat).
Migrant guys write their thoughts. “Humanity on the way, brotherhood, justice”, are some of the first words written during the path of peace, phrases that these boys bring sewn on their own skin and their hopes. “I will fix them by presenting them in a reflection with the constant thought that peace is not of this world, but an inner struggle that is conquered day by day”, concludes Affinati who is accompanied as well as by his boys from Piero Arganinihead of the Penny Winton of Parma.
The journey continues, friar trains, buses, passages of friends and with the long march on the heart of Rome to deliver to the new Pope a letter that contains the dreams of those who arrive in Italy look to the future with hope.