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Pope Francis, in the meeting with journalists a few days after his election, about the choice of his name, said “ How I would like a church that is poor and for the poor!”. With this spirit, “to walk towards a Church poor and for the poor”, in full harmony with the Vincentian Charism – of which the Worldwide Vincentian Family celebrated the 400th anniversary of its foundation –, the Leonean Apostolic College in Rome organizes “The Leonean Thursday “, A series of meetings, om January to May, open to all, promoted by the Vincentian Family. On 11 January the cycle of meetings will begin with the biblical scholar, Prof. Rosanna Virgili, who spoke on the sentence taken from the First Letter of St. John the Apostle: “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” (1 Jn 3:18).

In February 15, at the beginning of Lent, the meeting had as its theme “The vocation to follow poor Jesus” and was held by bishop Mons. Vincenzo Paglia, President of the Pontifical Academy for Life and Grand Chancellor of the Pontifical Institute John Paul II. Next month, March 8, Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi will give a lecture on the verse of Psalm 33 (34): “This poor cried, and the Lord heard him”.

At Easter time, April 19, Mons. Rino Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization – to which the Pope has entrusted the responsibilities on the pastoral care of the Shrines – will hold a meditation on the sentence of St. John Chrysostom “If you want to honor the body of Christ, do not disdain it when it is naked”. The cycle of meetings will conclude with Luigino Bruni, editorialist of Avvenire and LUMSA teacher, who on May 3 will discuss the theme: “The Our Father: the prayer of the poor”.

All the meetings will be held at 6.30 pm in the Leoniano Apostolic College in via Pompeo Magno 21. For further information, please contact Father Valerio, tel. 06/328021 – e-mail: padrevaleriocm@gmail.com.

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