Dear friends,

I would like to share with you the joy of being received in a private audience by Pope Francis on Friday, January 13.
I was able to tell him about the journey we have made in these months after the day in St. Peter’s Square that we all remember well. The Holy Father confirmed his esteem for our experience, especially bearing in mind his first meeting with Fr. Francesco Ricci and how even then he was enthusiastic about reading Fr. Giussani’s writings, understanding that it was a “spirituality for our time.” Then he said that he appreciates the work we have done on the content of his speech and invites us to follow the path we have taken, assuring us of his willingness to support us.
I also informed him about the gesture we will make in Rome next January 20 in favor of peace in Ukraine together with Monsignor Paul Richard Gallagher and the editor of the daily newspaper Avvenire, Marco Tarquinio. In this regard, as he had already told us on October 15, he confirmed to me that he relies heavily on our support for his “prophecy for peace.”
Lastly, the Pope asks us to continue to pray for him and his mission.

Thanking you sincerely for your friendship, I greet you with affection.