About twenty members of the Apostolic Movement Cristo Rey participate in the “TOGETHER” ecumenical meeting in Rome, convened by Pope Francis and organized by the Taizé community for young Europeans of all Christian confessions.
In the days prior to the experience, the young people share that throughout the weekend they hope to "meet other Christians and share our similarities and differences"; "feeling a community together with the other confessions" and "feeling that all Christians really are ONE."
And so, with their backpacks full of hope and their hearts ready for fraternal communion, the Builders arrive at the Caput Mundi. The emblematic Trinità dei Monti is a silent witness of the reunion hugs of our young people. The meeting begins with the welcome of the Enmanuele Community, which prepares an ecumenical celebration in the chapel around the Johannine passage "may they all be one". We shared homemade pizzas for dinner in the unfading 15th century cloister with other participants from Poland, France and other places in Spain. We end the day with a night walk through the
main monuments of the Italian capital.
Saturday begins early by sharing the Eucharist with all the pilgrims in the host community, followed by breakfast on the terrace overlooking Piazza di Spagna with truly indescribable panoramic views of the Eternal City. The rest of the morning is spent in different workshops throughout the city. Our Movement is present in two diverse:
On the one hand, a group of us participated in the workshop «Together with the believers of yesterday through cultural trips» organized by the Jesuit association Pietre lives in the Church of San Ignacio de Loyola. There, we discover the Gospel through the beauty transmitted to us by architecture, painting and sculpture. We reflect on faces, moments and places in which we feel like missionaries, we consider the inner fire of our faith as a gift received and our being as an apostle.
On the other hand, we participate in «Together embrace beyond borders towards a more beautiful and fairer life», workshop organized by the Protestant organization Joel Nafuma Refugee Center next to the temple of San Pablo intramuros. First, they clarify similar concepts that have nuances: migrant, refugee, exile. Next, we share the importance of humanizing the treatment of people who live outside their country and we know first-hand the testimony of some users.
We had lunch with the thousands of pilgrims in the gardens of the Pontifical Lateran University and, afterwards, in the cathedral of the diocese of Rome we enjoyed a time of praise and ecumenical dialogue around the passage of the pilgrims to Emmaus "Didn't our hearts burn?". After the shipment, Anglicans, Catholics, Orthodox and Protestants are preparing to travel the five kilometers that separate us from St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, making a synod, which means precisely that, walking together. The word has origins in the Greek terms συν- (same) -οδός (way).
The highlight of the meeting is the ecumenical prayer vigil for the work of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. A total of twelve leaders of the Christian churches symbolize the desires for unity, to walk together, as followers of Jesus. Among others, Bartholomew I, patriarch of Constantinople, is present as an Orthodox representative; Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, representing Anglicans; Thaoufillos El-Soryan, symbolizing the Coptic presence; Bernd Wallet, Archbishop of Utrecht, as ambassador of Protestant Christians. In his intervention, Pope Francis tells us about the importance of silence: "Silence, in the ecclesial community, makes fraternal communication possible, in which the Holy Spirit harmonizes points of view." At the end, we worship the Taizé cross, an ineffable experience, an intimate sensation with God.
The day ends with a fraternal dinner of the Kingdom Builders in a Roman osteria in Trastevere, where we share everything we carry in our hearts after an intense day.
On Sunday, our eyes feast on the works of Bernini, Borromini and Caravaggio during a cultural route that ends in St. Peter's Square. There, we pray the Angelus together with the Holy Father who, among other things, questions us: "When I make a mistake, am I willing to repent and retrace my steps?" Inside the basilica, we enjoyed a time of personal prayer, Eucharistic adoration and interiority.
We ended our stay in Rome in an unparalleled environment: the chair of Saint Peter, celebrating the Eucharist, thanksgiving for everything experienced and shared.
Alberto de Castro Barrás. Spanish Communication Team.
