EUROPE/ITALY - Assisi will host young Franciscans from all over the continent for a European Franciscan Meeting

Tuesday, 24 July 2007

Assisi (Agenzia Fides) - Assisi is ready to welcome young people to the European Franciscan Meeting organised by the Union of Friars Minor of Europe. The meeting with the slogan “Go Francis, repair my … Europe” will reflect on how the Franciscan charisma helped to form the Europe of yesterday and what it can offer today.
The organisers say “Francis of Assisi is a light and still today he can illuminate the paths of our peoples and fill the hearts of men and women with hope. This is why we have invited young Europeans aged 18 to 30 years to discover together the Franciscan roots of our continent”
Marco Bartoli who teaches at the Lumsa University in Rome explains: “Europe needs not only roots but also dreams. To build a different world to the one in which we live, we must imagine a different world. Europe without dreams is a Europe which is rich in banks and chocolate but closed to foreigners. But Europe has a vocation in the world: after exporting its wars which in the 20th century spread from Europe to the whole world, now it should export the idea of peace, freedom and respect for others. There exists the Europe of Francis and of him many men and women of different generations who instead of living in fear, lived and live in love which dispels all fear”.
The young visitors will be accommodated in school gyms or youth hostels and the themes for reflection will be the following: “The Origins”, “ Conversion”, “Holiness”, “Saint Claire". The participants will listen to catechesis, take part in discussion, share prayer and visit all the holy places in Assisi Basilica of St Francis, S. Maria degli Angeli, Saint Claire, Saint Damiano, etc). For information see www.assisi2007.org. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 24/7/2007 righe 26 parole 268)


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