A festive afternoon, simple and warm, as often happens in the Roman suburbs when the Bishop of Rome arrives. Around 4pm the Pope entered the parish of Santa Maria della Presentazione, in the Torrevecchia district, welcomed by the enthusiasm of hundreds of faithful. Waiting for him in the churchyard were families, scout groups, nuns from different congregations and above all many children from catechism. Welcoming him were, among others, the cardinal vicar Baldo Reina and the parish priest Don Paolo Stacchiotti. The kids had prepared colorful welcome banners, while the little ones tried to get as close as possible to greet the Pontiff.
Before Mass, the Pope wanted to stop inside the parish complex to meet some of the most fragile people in the community: disabled, sick and faithful who experience situations of suffering. A simple but very intense moment, also marked by a joke from the Pontiff which brought smiles to those present.
«Today we are having a small “conclave”: there are two cardinals next to me, who accompany me. His Eminence Montenegro, who always comes, and the Vicar, Cardinal Baldo. Then the future, almost already auxiliary bishop of Rome, Monsignor Stefano Sparapani, who is here with us. We salute them. I say about the conclave because a lady reminded me of it today marks 10 months since I was calledelected to serve as Bishop of Rome. And so I thank God, I thank all of you for this wonderful welcome, truly! Thank you!”.
At 5pm the Holy Father presided over the celebration of Mass in the parish churchpacked with faithful. The homily was punctuated by a very concrete look at the difficulties faced by urban suburbs, but also by a strong invitation to hope.
«I know well that your parish community lives in an area with various challenges. There is no shortage of worrying marginal situations, material and moral poverty. TOEven adolescents and young people risk growing up deceived by sellers of death or disillusioned about the future. Many are waiting for a home, a job that ensures a dignified life, safe environments where they can meet, play, plan something beautiful together.”
The Pope recognized the wounds that mark so many lives, but also indicated a specific mission to the parish community by quoting the passage from the Gospel of the Samaritan Woman.
«As at the well of the Gospel, men and women arrive in this parish wounded in their souls, offended in their dignity and thirsty for hope. The urgent and liberating task of showing the closeness of Jesus is yours, his will to redeem our existence from the evils that threaten it with a proposal for a just, true, full life.”
During the meeting with the faithful the Pontiff was also aimed at the little ones, inviting them to become protagonists of a possible change already in everyday life.
«All of us can seek a peace agreement and not war. Never violence, no bullying, reject from an early age all those causes that cause division. We can all be builders of peace, which is so necessary in this world.”
At the end of the Eucharistic celebration, the Pope met with the pastoral council of the parish and the collaborators of the community.
