Pope Francis's visit during the Jubilee of the Sick and People with Disabilities was a moment of extraordinary grace. It marked a turning point—a confirmation of a journey that began years ago and transformed my life.
That journey has brought countless changes. It taught me to look beyond surface appearances and discover the beauty of relationship with the most vulnerable. Over twenty years, there were moments of crisis—moments that led me, quite providentially, to Fede e Luce.
In a movement like Fede e Luce, I come to know suffering intimately. I encounter the last and the least—those whom society wishes to discard, or confine behind walls of pity and charity, as Pope Francis says, because they are seen as a burden or an obstacle to the pursuit of false happiness and comfort at any cost.
In these encounters with the vulnerable, I discover the true value of fragility and compassion.
What struck me most about Pope Francis was his joy and his determination. The words he spoke during the homily and throughout the Jubilee have become fixed points by which to navigate our path.
On a journey full of challenges and struggle, Pope Francis's gratitude and his urging us forward—to keep going—suddenly made everything lighter. And yet I felt a tremendous push to go beyond my limits, convinced that the power of love is stronger than any barrier or limitation.
Joy conquered suffering.
Paolo Tantaro, National President, Associazione Fede e Luce, 2016