Dear signatories,

Yesterday, March 27, I personally gave Pope Francis the over 655,000 signatures we collected on the appeal "War is madness".

We had agreed with the Pope's collaborators that the delivery would take place in St. Peter's Square next to the long “PerugiAssisi” flag. But at the last moment, a call came: the Pope wants to greet you personally and accept the signatures. He doesn’t have much time, but he will meet you in Santa Marta before the Angelus prayer.

And so it was. A short and intense meeting, full of warmth and solidarity, without any formalities. We expected the Pope to be surrounded by ceremonial staff. Instead, the Pope arrives alone, with a pace marked by sciatica but quick. It was 11.10 am, and at 12.00 am the whole world would await him for the Angelus at the window of the apostolic palace. 

Through the design of the glass we see him coming. He opened the door, and it was like a meeting between friends. Our eyes met, we shook hands, and Archbishop Zani invited me to speak: "Holy Father, thank you for all you are doing to stop this latest, horrible war. Thank you." The Pope's response, which I keep in my heart, contained all the harshness of the clash taking place on a global level and the serene solidity of the successor of St. Peter.

I gave the Pope a letter, an electronic key with the signatures and the appeal of the Extraordinary March Perugi-Assisi for Peace and Fraternity that we have convened for next April 24.

Then it was the turn of the two young people from the Institute Fiume Giallo in Rome who came to bring a message of support to the Pope. "Dear Pope ..." Francis, 12 years old and in second grade, unrolled a long letter written by several students in his class. Miriam, age 11 and in middle school, presented a book of peace to the Pope, in which the drawings of her younger comrades were collected. Pope Francis listened to them, embraced them, thanked them and greeted us all with the promise to meet again soon, with the network of schools for peace. 

"Now I guess you want a picture with me!" he exclaimed, smiling. I passed the cell phone to a co-worker who magically appeared at the door. 12 shots. Then the inevitable: "Don't forget to pray for me!" to which I instinctively answer: "Certainly Holy Father, ... but remember that we too are in great need of your prayers!"

Flavio Lotti

National coordinator of the Perugi-Assisi March

Perugia, March 28, 2022