Carlo and Francesco, “Two of Us”

The Jesuits have always known how to glimpse the opportunities that can emerge from times of hardship, and it is in this spirit that the Leone XIII Institute and the Massimo Institute have rescheduled the event “Carlo Acutis, One of Us”, which was originally planned for Sunday, April 27th, to coincide with the canonization of the Leonian student.

The passing of Pope Francis has brought sorrow, dismay, and a sense of loss to the entire religious and secular community. Yet, the Schools have also embraced this moment as an opportunity to come together and give thanks to the Lord for the gift of having known them. As a result, the event launched last December through Educate Magis has been reimagined to celebrate not only the life of Carlo, but also that of the Pontiff. Throughout their lives, both were closely tied to the Society of Jesus – Carlo as a student, the Pope as a member of the Order. Above all, they shared a profound spirit of service, dedicating themselves to the weakest and most vulnerable.

Vincenzo Sibillo, General Director of the Leone XIII Institute, explained how the original proposal was revised under the new name “Two of Us”: “We chose to keep the event as a moment of prayer and an opportunity to strengthen the bond within our community, joining together to attend the celebrations for the final farewell to Pope Francis”. The trip and program were redesigned with Father Nicola Bordogna SJ, General Director of the Massimo Institute, to allow participants to reach Rome in time to attend the funeral, which will take place in St. Peter’s Square on the morning of Saturday, April 26th.

Today, the first international delegations will begin to arrive and will be officially welcomed tomorrow evening at the Parish of Santa Maria Segreta in Milan – Carlo’s parish. Nearly 300 participants, including students, teachers, and collaborators from Italy and abroad, will join the initiative, along with many guests. On the first evening, greetings will be shared by Father General Arturo Sosa SJ, and Agnieszka Baran, Director of JECSE. Father Giacomo Costa SJ will also be present, former Special Secretary of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops and President of the San Fedele Cultural Foundation in Milan, whose journey has led him to collaborate alongside Pope Francis. Students from Fe y Alegría will also join the gathering both in Milan and in Rome.

“Despite the revised schedule, everyone has confirmed their participation” continued the Director. “The spirit of the participants has been deeply rewarding and a sign of appreciation for the commitment shown by our Schools in carrying this initiative forward”. The Leone XIII Institute will host the participants overnight, and the entire school structure has been prepared with the support of the Alpini Group of Milan.

We wish all participants a profound, authentic, and meaningful experience – guided by the Word of God and inspired by the lives of Carlo and Francis.