2016-07-08 19:00:00

Italy: Caritas Rome invites parishes to pray for Emmanuel


The Director of Caritas Rome, Monsignor Enrico Feroci has called upon parishes in the Diocese of Rome to use this Sunday, 10 July as a day of reflection and remembrance for Emmanuel Chidi Nnamdi brutally murdered in a racist attack. The Sunday 10 July initiative was made known to Radio Vatican by  Alberto Colaiacomo, an official of the Caritas Rome press office. 

Emmanuel, 36, and his partner Chinyere, 24, were taking a stroll Tuesday in the city centre when they were confronted and viciously attacked by a group of right-wing football fans in the Italian town of Fermo, situated in the central region of Marche. Emmanuel’s partner, Chinyere sustained bruises to the arms and leg while Emmanuel was fatally beaten with a steel bar that was ripped out of a road sign.

Caritas Rome reminds citizens to “recognise the face of Christ in the many refugees who seek help in our country. We hope that our nation will muster the needed courage and political will to be more welcoming and inclusive of refugees," said Monsignor Feroci. He has encouraged the government to outline programmes that are supportive and attentive to persons in need. Monsignor Feroci further challenged politicians not to stoke the flames of hate. 

We hope "that our politicians will be more respectful of the suffering of men and women who confront major difficulties in their lives with so much dignity, a dignity that is missing from those that shout the loudest only to foment and propagate fear, hatred and resentment, " Monsignor Feroci said. He adds that racism is not only about killing, injuring or humiliating. 

“Racism is also in ignoring, refusing to acknowledge the other person, distancing oneself and not creating relationships. We also need to ask ourselves, If it were not for this tragedy, would be interested in this painful story of Emmanuel and Chinyere? The task of a Christian and indeed of every citizen is to foster the truth about these matters: It is the only way in which we can prevent violence, often caused by the poverty and the discontent of so many men and women who are manipulated by professionals of terror,” Monsignor Feroci emphasised.  

Announcing the 10 July initiative in parishes, Caritas Rome notes that by coincidence, the Gospel reading of this Sunday in all Catholic Churches is about the parable of the Good Samaritan as found in the Gospel of Luke Chapter 10 verses 25 – 37. In this Gospel,  a scholar of the Law asked Jesus the question, “Who is my neighbour?”

"‘Who is my neighbour?’ Is the question that this Sunday, 10 July proposes to us. Jesus answers the question with the parable of the Good Samaritan. We too would do well to reflect on the life of Emmanuel Chidi Nnamdi brutally murdered in Fermo. We need to take a moment to think also of Chinyere, Emmanuel’s partner. Think about all the immigrants and refugees who come to us in search of a future for themselves and their families. As Caritas Rome, we invite you to pray together so that the Lord give us the ability to recognise him in our brothers and sisters. On our part (as Caritas Rome) we will dedicate this Sunday’s Eucharistic celebration to the memory of Emmanuel and his surviving partner Chinyere at 10.30 am in our Church of “Cittadella Della Carità – Santa Giacinta,” Monsignor Enrico Feroci said.

(Email:engafrica@vatiradio.va)








All the contents on this site are copyrighted ©.