Asia - The Christmas lunches of Mercy

Hong Kong, China

Islamabad, Pakistan

Jakarta, Indonesia

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

America - The Christmas lunches of Mercy

Buenos Aires, Argentina 

Guatemala City, Guatemala

Lima, Peru

Mexico City, Mexico

New York, United States of America

San Salvador, El Salvador

Africa - The Christmas lunches of Mercy

Beira, Mozambique

Bujumbura, Burundi

Blantyre, Malawi

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo

Lusaka, Zambia

Europe - The Christmas lunches of Mercy

Antwerp

Budapest

London

Madrid

Paris

Warsaw

Italy - The lunches of Mercy

Naples

Bologna

Padua

Milan

Rome, Italy - The lunches of #MercyChristmas

St, Mary in Trastevere

St, Michael, Ostiense area

Holy Cross, Flaminio area

Gioberti Vocational school

Bukavu, Dem. Rep. of Congo - Invitation to the lunch of the #MercyChristmas

Some elderly receive the invitation of the Community of Bukavu for the lunch to held on Christmas of Mercy. 

Like them tens of thousands of poor and people in need have received and are receiving the invitation for the lunch of today.

Kiev, Ukraine - The lunch of Mercy in the institute ...

The Youth for Peace of the Community of Sant'Egidio in Kiev are ready for the Christmas lunch with their elderly friends living in an institute. 

Their lunch will be a gourmet lunch! Courses will come from one of the most famous restaurants in the city. Because the Christmas of Mercy means a warm atmosphere, beauty everywhere and ... good taste!

Novara, Italy - Best wishes for a Christmas of Mercy

From the children of the School of Peace in Novara, carried out by the Community of Sant'Egidio, a wish for all, may this be a Christmas of Mercy ....

San Salvador, El Salvador - Feast at the Hospital of Divine Providence

Another Christmas lunch, another #MercyChristmas in advance, before December 25th, the one with the sick people, mainly children, hospitalized at the Salvadoran nursing house: "I was sick and you visited me" (Matthew: 25). 

Avezzano, Italy - The Christmas lunch and the Holy Door in prison

In prison often the Christmas lunches that the Community of Sant'Egidio organizes can not, for various reasons, take place on December 25th.

That's why in Avezzano the table for the detainees has been prepared in advance, at the opening of the Holy Door of the Year of Mercy in the prison itself: "I was in prison and you visited me" (Matthew: 25).

For all a merry Christmas of Mercy, a wish of #MercyChristmas! 

Cribs of today, towards #MercyChristmas ...

Pictures used by the communities of Sant'Egidio in the world in order to invite to live #Mercy Christmas, a Christmas of Mercy.

God continues to be born in the corners of our cities: "I was hungry and you gave me food, I was a stranger and you welcomed me" (Matthew, chapter 25). 

Barcelona, Spain - "Play it again", for Africa

30 European cities are currently hosting the "Re-toy". The children of the Rainbow Country and the Youth for Peace of the Community of Sant'Egidio were mobilized, collecting used toys - but stilt useful, almost new - and selling them in the colorful Christmas markets of some cities in Italy, Belgium, France, Germany, Spain and France (here in the pictures Barcelona and Naples). 

The "Re-toy" is at the forefront in protecting the environment and in the eco-friendly education of the young. In addition the income of the sale supports the DREAM program in fighting against AIDS in Africa.

Bouake, Ivory Coast - #MercyChristmas in advance at the School of Peace

Ivorian children who attend the School of Peace of the Community of Sant'Egidio are happy for the learning tools they received as a gift. 

#MercyChristmas in advance for them ....

Naples, Italy - At school, in order to explain from what refugees are fleeing

Two pictures of the conference on refugees and migrants held last week in the high school "Mazzini" in Naples. 

The meeting was followed by a crowd of young people, but also of adults, who have been able to know, understand, reflect more about an era-making phenomenon. Beyond clichés and simplifications.

Touching was the testimony of O., eighteen year old refugee from Gambia, now student of the School of Italian Language and Culture run by the Community of Sant'Egidio. O., with his words, opened the hearts and minds of those attended the conference speaking about the challenge posed by immigration and refugees in Italy and in the Western world.

Mexico City, Mexico - Mercy is the color of Christmas

Christmas of this Holy Year of Mercy is coming.

The beautiful black and white pictures reproduced here remind us the one of last year, the Christmas lunch of the Community of Sant'Egidio in Mexico City.

Bologna, Italy - Welcome to bishop Zuppi!

Everything is ready in Bologna to welcome Mgr. Matthew Zuppi, that Saturday December 12th will make his entering into the diocese as the new archbishop of the city and will open the Holy Door of the Jubilee of Mercy. 

The Community of Sant'Egidio will rejoice with him and with the Bolognese people.

Manila, Philippines - An invitation to mercy ...

The children of the School of Peace of the Community of Sant'Egidio prepare the invitation cards to the Christmas lunch of Mercy: #MercyChristmas!

Warsaw, Poland - Vivaldi in the institution for the elderly ...

The Community of Sant'Egidio in Warsaw organized a Sunday afternoon of music for the elderly living in the institution where they go every week.

The friendship, the violin. Vivaldi, Gorecki, Bartok. In the institution, together, the spring and the winter of life ....

Goma, Dem. Rep. of Congo - At the school Floribert Bwana Chui, school of mercy and peace

At the school Floribert Bwana Chui, at the edge of the huge refugee camp of Mugunga, near Goma, in North Kivu, where thousands fled the militias and the ethnic conflicts that causes bloodshed in that region of the Congo, classes has resumed. 

Dedicated to Floribert, a member of the Community of Sant'Egidio of Goma who refused a proposal of bribery and was killed for it, for whom it is opening the diocesan phase of the process of beatification for martyrdom, the school gathers about 200 students divided into

six primary courses.

At Bwana Chui school they learn to read and write, but also the importance and beauty of mercy and peace, the values for which Floribert spent his life.