Thursday 31 March 2016

Porto, Portugal - A new school of peace ...

Just before Easter a new School of Peace run by the Community of Sant'Egidio in Portugal is born. In Porto, in the north of the country. 

A new opportunity for the transmission of a culture of peace and encounter. Something we need more and more in times like these.

Wednesday 30 March 2016

Faisalabad, Pakistan - The Way of the Cross of the Christians and of a whole people ...

A picture of the Good Friday celebrated by the Sant'Egidio Community in Faisalabad few days ago. 

The Way of the Cross of Pakistani Christians and of an entire people victim of terrorism continues. Yesterday in St. Mary in Trastevere in Rome and in many other communities around the world there have been ceremonies of prayer for those who were involved in the attack in Lahore and for the end of terrorist violence.

Sunday 20 March 2016

Bukavu, Dem. Rep. of Congo - Joy for the Lord comes to town

It is the joy of the disciples because God comes to save the city from the hell of indifference and solitude. 

In Bukavu and elsewhere, the brothers and sisters of Sant'Egidio will deliver the palm trees to many. In the streets and in the places of sorrow. As a sign of mercy and perspective of peace and hope.

Saturday 19 March 2016

Jakarta, Indonesia - A people of different ages enter in the Holy Week

The children of the School of Peace in Jakarta have prepared some notes that will be delivered along with the palms to many people tomorrow, Palm Sunday, an entry into the Holy Week of Passion, death and Resurrection of the Lord. 

Palms want to be a sign of welcome, of opening of heart, of joy, of peace; what a great need there is of this sign in our world and in our cities!

Friday 18 March 2016

Jos, Nigeria - Friends of the elderly, mercy is stronger than everything

The Plateau is a state of the Nigerian federation, its capital city is Jos. The state and the city are located in a sensitive context, on the border between Nigeria's Muslim-majority area and the predominantly Christian one. For this they have been for some time places of tension and inter-religious violence. 

In this context the Community of Sant'Egidio is working for dialogue and peace. 
Supporting the efforts of men of good will of every faith and experiencing a service to the poor. For mercy shows a road to encounter and peace.

Thursday 17 March 2016

Kinshasa, Dem. Rep. of Congo - Passage of the Holy Door of Mercy

The Community of Sant'Egidio in Kinshasa passed through the Holy Door of the Cathedral of the Congolese capital with a large number of friends and poor. 
Mercy unites and makes us look to the future.

Wednesday 16 March 2016

Lima, Peru - Prayer, poor, peace in a time of Lent ...

Like on any Wednesday evening of Lent, the Community of Sant'Egidio in Lima gather with the friends who live on the streets, with the other poor, with the passers-by, with those who want to share a moment of rest and meditation, to raise their prayers to the Lord, to invoke a time of mercy and peace. 

Tuesday 15 March 2016

Carcha, Guatemala - Pictures of the School of Peace ...

Today and in the last days we are editing pictures of the Schools of Peace of the Community of Sant'Egidio in the different continents.
In America …

Monday 14 March 2016

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania - Pictures of the School of Peace ...

We are editing pictures of the Schools of Peace of the Community of Sant'Egidio in the different continents. 
In Africa ... 

Friday 11 March 2016

Faisalabad, Pakistan - Pictures of the School of Peace ...

We are editing pictures of the Schools of Peace of the Community of Sant'Egidio in the different continents. 

In Asia ... 

Thursday 10 March 2016

Antwerp, Belgium - Pictures of the School of Peace ...

Today and in the coming days some pictures of the Schools of Peace of the Community of Sant'Egidio in the different continents.
In Europe ...

Wednesday 9 March 2016

Bogota, Colombia - Inauguration of a new School of Peace

A new School of Peace of the Community of Sant'Egidio has started. It's the one of the barrio San Martín, in Bogota, Colombia. 

Songs, dances, games have featured the opening celebration. The children of San Martín will have a new space to live an adventure of growth, widening of the horizons, humanity. Good job everyone!

Tuesday 8 March 2016

London, UK - A cup of tea ..., but just a cup of tea?

Every Saturday afternoon the London Community of Sant'Egidio lives a very ... "british" ritual: a cup of tea with friends. 
The tea is the most good out there. Friends too: the elderly and the homeless in the area.

Monday 7 March 2016

Genoa, Italy - "What are the '#humanitarian corridors'?"

With the Community of Sant'Egidio of Genoa the guests of the Health Residence Castelletto learn what are the "humanitarian corridors" and understand better the stories of sorrow of the refugees from Syria. 

To have less fear. To embrace the world, even being elderly living in a suburb institution.
Yesterday Pope Francis at the Angelus remarked on the experience of "corridors": "This pilot project", he said, "which combines solidarity and security, allows to help people fleeing war and violence, as a hundred refugees who have already moved to Italy, including sick children, disabled people, war widows with children and elderly".

Friday 4 March 2016

Beira, Mozambique - Distribution of rice to the elderly ...

Every Saturday, in Beira, the Community of Sant'Egidio distributes rice to the poorest among the elderly. 

A help especially welcome now that the lack of rain is damaging the subsistence family crops in central and south Mozambique.

Thursday 3 March 2016

Kiev, Ukraine - Prayer for the end of all wars

Even in Ukraine there is a war. 

But the Community of Sant'Egidio in Kiev do not forget to pray for the conflicts afar, like the one in Syria, and for the refugees from that country.
And it does with the homeless of the Central Station.

Wednesday 2 March 2016

Historical pictures - Refugees from the Middle East, also thirty years ago ...

A picture of more than thirty years ago.
The Community of Sant'Egidio welcomed dozens of Lebanese elders, fleeing the war that ravaged the country since 1982.
Two days ago, along with other churches and associations, as part of an agreement with Italian government, the so-called "humanitarian corridors", the reception of a first group of Syrian and Iraqi refugees.

Tuesday 1 March 2016

Rome, Italy - Just arrived the first refugees through a #safepassage

93 Syrian and Iraqi refugees (24 families, 41 children) who have obtained a special visa thanks to the innovative experience of the humanitarian corridors landed yesterday at Fiumicino airport from the refugee camps in Lebanon. 

The project is the result of an agreement between the Community of Sant'Egidio, the Pope John XXIII Association, the Federation of Italian Protestant Churches, the Waldensian Church and the Italian government. 
It is expected to allow a thousand people to reach Europe in a safe way in two years, a pilot initiative in a time of indifference and closure.