A meeting in preparation for the Jubilee of Consecrated Life entitled "Witnesses of Hope, on the Way to Peace" began today, Feb. 1, 2024, at the Pineta Palace Hotel in Rome. The participants, coming from more than 60 countries, represent different forms of consecrated life present in the world. The whole meeting, in a way, is a mandate for the participants to return to their own countries and prepare other consecrated persons to live the jubilee year.
After a brief moment of prayer, the theme of the day, "Believing in Hope," was introduced, on which participants were invited to reflect and share according to a synodal style.
The greeting of Card. João Braz de Aviz, Prefect DIVCSVA and Sr. Simona Brambilla, Secretary of DIVCSVA was followed by the intervention of Fr. Giacomo Costa, SJ, Consultor of the Synod Secretariat, who introduced the theme of the dialogue. Fr. Giacomo emphasized how consecrated persons, made one body by Christ, become witnesses of hope and of deep listening to each other.
Sr. Carmen Ros, N.S.C., Undersecretary DIVCSVA, recounted the journey so far. The whole process of preparation for the jubilee has followed a synodal dynamic with moments of listening, witnessing and sharing. The journey to the jubilee passes through several stages: the preparatory phase that took place in each one’s own country, characterized by the collection of appeals for reconciliation and signs of hope. From the preparatory moment emerged the areas to be deepened in this meeting and in the following stages: the commitment to the least, the custody of creation and the path toward universal fraternity.
After a short break, a multi-voice dialogue was held on the theme "Believing in Hope" moderated by TV 2000 journalist Maurizio Di Schino. Alessandra Smerilli, F.M.A., Secretary of the Dicastery for the Service of Integral Human Development and Paulin Kubuya Batairwa, SX, Undersecretary of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue contributed to the dialogue.
The day ended with a time of dialogue in the assembly and the concluding prayer of Vespers.