I'm here to tell you what happened inside me after September 30th. If you were with me that day and lived it alongside me, you can imagine—even if only for a few hours. Not long ago, I spoke with you about the Assisi march, and September 30th felt like living it all over again. The first stop was the Church of the Holy Apostles, then those who were able went to San Giovanni, and finally the third stop was St. Peter's. It was as if something inside me had come alive again, a thread reconnecting me to that small march.
I was thrilled at the thought of seeing Pope Francis. For me, he's something like John Paul II was—he is the father of the people. He carries on John Paul II's message, and that draws me very close to him. I won't lie: I hope that one day I'll be able to embrace him and greet him properly, because yes, I was standing near the front, but I didn't get the chance. I hope it will happen someday, perhaps with the Fede e Luce community or another group.
Seeing Pope Francis in person, in his wheelchair, was like seeing a father who suffers, a father who does everything for his children. I want to say this especially to the young people. St. Peter's that day was packed—packed with young people—and I noticed there was so much collaboration. So to all of you in your communities—and this goes for every group, not just mine—don't take what you have for granted. Always treasure the gift. Some of our friends from Fede e Luce showed us this beautifully at the altar through mime. We give to you, and you give to us.
Offering a part of ourselves to you isn't always easy in times like these, as Pope Francis says. With everything happening around us, don't be afraid to receive what we want to share with you. And we shouldn't be afraid of those who help us. Fear keeps us apart. But we want to embrace each other. If we want to speak to one another, if we want to look into each other's eyes in public, we shouldn't be afraid to do it—because all of us, as Pope Francis said, are free to do so. Even in silence. We don't have to speak. All we need is to understand each other in silence, the way we did at St. Peter's.
This is an invitation to build a relationship that makes everyone stronger and more united in your communities. But especially when silent prayer comes in your gatherings, do this: as Pope Francis says, look at the person beside you and hold hands with one another. Only then can we help each other, we can help you, and most of all, we can grow together and help the whole Fede e Luce family grow.