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Jubilee of the Disabled: “We too can help so many”. The gift of Gli Amici to Pope Francis


Giubileo2Today was concluded with the liturgy celebrated by Pope Francis, the Jubilee for the sick and disabled people. From June 10 to 12 thousands of people participated in pilgrimages to the Holy Doors and the catechetical meetings,
including the Saturday morning conference entitled: “And You Will Always Eat at my Table” (2 Sam 9.1 to 13). The meeting, which was also attended by a delegation of Gli Amici, a movement of people with disabilities of the Community of Sant’Egidio, was introduced by Msgr . Matthew Zuppi, who explained the meaning of these days: “These days we have learned even more that the gospel is for everyone, while not all of them think so, it is.”


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Adriana Ciciliani, a part of Gli Amici, also spoke at the conference and told her story, the support of her friends of Sant’Egidio, the joy of the wedding with Fabrizio, who is also disabled, and the commitment of the disabled for peace: “We prayed so much so that no one more dies for the war. We like peace and always pray for Syria. In this year of mercy we can give a lot to those who need it most, because we have everything and more.”

The meeting took place in the presence of the Pope , who spoke about the misconception people have that the disabled do not understand: “Each of us has a different way of knowing things, one knows in one way and one in another. But everyone can know God.”

At the end of the Conference, a piece of art painted by was Marianna fawns – an artist herself also with disabilities who participates in the Art Studios of the Community of Sant’Egidio – was given to Pope Francis. Marianna often rewrites important pictures, or famous art history and transforms them according to her peculiar way of drawing and composing. On this occasion sheadriana_ciciliani_giubileo_2016(1) reinterpreted the White Crucifixion of Chagall, surrounding the image of Jesus – which in the original is accompanied by representations of the persecution of the Jews of Central and Eastern Europe – with scenes of Syrian and Iraqi refugees fleeing Europe. At the foot of the cross, as a sign of hope, she depicted the three families that Pope Francis had brought with him on his return flight from the island of Lesvos with the help of the Community of Sant’Egidio.