Sant’Egidio celebrates 47 years of prayer and service to the poor

The Community of Sant’Egidio is celebrating 47 years of dedication to prayer, charity,evangelization and dialogue.

Founded in Rome in 1968, the 60,000 member strong lay movement operates in over 73 countries throughout the world.

A liturgy on Monday evening in the Basilica of St. John Lateran marks the close of celebrations which have been ongoing during the past week here in Rome.

The events include a meeting of some 100 bishops from all continents who have been sharing their experiences and participating in Sant’Egidio’s service and solidarity with the poor. 

There were bishops from Europe, from many African countries - from those where there is peace to those that live great difficulties such as Nigeria, Mali, Niger, Democratic Republic of Congo and Malawi, recently hit by floods - along with great nations of Asia, where Christian communities are in the minority - such as Indonesia and Pakistan - and the Middle East, with a significant presence from Syria at war. 

One of those present was Swaziland Bishop, José Luis Ponce de Leon of the diocese of Manzini.

Speaking to Vatican Radio’s Linda Bordoni, Bishop José Luis said this year’s gathering was especially poignant because of the testimonies of so many first-hand witnesses of war and persecution.

Listen to the interview: 

Bishop José Luis Ponce de Leon speaks of how every year – for the past 17 years or so – bishops meet under Sant’Egidio’s welcoming umbrella to share and to put into practice the three “P”s identified by Pope Francis during his visit to Sant’Egidio last year: Prayer, Poor, Peace.

He tells of how the bishops are involved in the Community’s daily work in serving the poor in one or another of their soup kitchens, in being with the disabled in one of its homes, in walking the streets and reaching out to those who don’t even look for help.

As regards the meetings between the bishops themselves, Bishop Ponce de Leon speaks in particular of how moved he was this year to listen to the testimonies of so many of his brother bishops who live in situations of war and persecution.

He mentions Syria of course, but also Nigeria, Mali, the Democratic Republic of Congo pointing to the many questions that arise when confronted with senseless violence and suffering, but also highlighting how prayer and the participation of the Church across the world lessens a terrible sense of loneliness and hopelessness in the face of war.