“The nativity scene reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas.” Pope Francis
Dear brothers and sisters, this year we are taking you all to Greccio, to remember the 800 years that have passed since Christmas 1223 when St. Francis set up his Nativity Scene to remember himself and the all world that God is very close to us, that he is real, alive and vibrant.
On 18 October, at the end of the General Audience in St. Peter’s Square, the Holy Father recalled the conflicts in Palestine and in Ukraine, and invited the faithful and people of all religions to observe, on Friday 27 October, a day of prayer, fasting and penitence for peace in the world.
The Pontifical Basilica of St. Anthony is participating in Pope Francis’ exhortation and his invitation to fasting and prayer.
The 2023 Lisbon WYD, scheduled for August 1-6, is now just around the corner. On July 27, a first group of young people and friars left the Basilica of Saint Anthony by bus bound for the birthplace of St. Anthony. There they will participate, along with hundreds of thousands of their peers, in the great event of the summer of 2023, in the presence of Pope Francis.
After having shared with Jesus the days of His passion and death, let us welcome in our hearts and in our lives the great proclamation of the Resurrection…
In a world that seems to have lost so many certainties, the Resurrection means to live in peace as brothers. In a world that tries to take refuge in small earthly hopes, which is content with fleeting moments of happiness that leave dissatisfaction and sadness inside our hearts, it implies the certainty of a Presence that can transform our lives and make us the protagonists of a love story.
