Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Lucca (Fides Service) - An unprecedented re-reading of lights and shadows of the last century with testimonials from protagonists in different parts of the world. This is the gaol of an international meeting on “Signs of the Spirit in the 20th Century: re-reading history: testimonials” in Lucca, Italy, 30 September to 2 October. The programme includes a host of speakers, starting with personal testimony of the former secretaries of the last four Popes, from John XXIII to Pope John Paul II for the first time together. Present also Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples; Cardinal Salvatore Pappalardo, archbishop emeritus of Palermo; Vice president of the Israeli parliament Giulio Edelinstheyn; former Polish premier Hanna Suchocka; philosopher and political expert Michael Novak; from Italy Senate President Marcello Pera, Minister of Culture Rocco Bottiglione. And more: people who survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, imprisonment in Nazi gulags and concentration camps, and other philosophers, theologians, historians, scientists, missionaries, scholars, artists.
The meeting is promoted jointly by Renewal in the Spirit RSI Italy, the archdiocese of Lucca, the Oblates of the Holy Spirit, Lucca City Council, Focolari Movement and S. Egidio Community under the patronage of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, the National Service for Cultural Project of the Italian Bishops’ Conference and the Italian Senate. “The history of humanity in the 20th century, with its tragic burden and unforeseeable uncertainties”, says Salvatore Martinez from RSI “was not grudging in signs of charity and glowing gestures marking the life and progress of peoples and cultures. And precisely a re-reading in a spiritual key of the last century is the challenge we intend to tackle in Lucca. It will be an act in honour of the Holy Spirit who always renders goodness fecund, and an act of love for future generations called to interpret the destiny of mankind”.
The meeting will include: Friday 30 September introduction; Saturday 1 October parallel sessions on “The Holy Spirit who sustains and perfects faith and charity” and “The Holy Spirit at the service of cultures and progress” and in the evening in Piazza Grande a musical spectacle “Faith on the horizons of Art”; Sunday 2 October solemn concelebration of the Eucharist presided by Archbishop Italo Castellani of Lucca. The meeting can be followed at www.lucca2005.org and www.rns-italia.it. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 28/9/2005, righe 31, parole 425)
