Celebration of lay Catholics of Sant’Egidio highlights group’s growing influence

[mwai_chat context=”Let’s have a discussion about this article:nnVATICAN CITY (RNS) — A crowd that included both Vatican dignitaries and the disabled and vulnerable gathered in Rome’s Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls on Thursday (Feb. 8) to celebrate the 56th anniversary of the lay Catholic movement of Sant’Egidio, considered Pope Francis’ favorite movement and a key player in the pontiff’s foreign diplomacy efforts.Beneath the massive gold ceiling above the basilica’s nave, numerous cardinals and other church officials, as well as foreign dignitaries, stood beside the more vulnerable people with disabilities, immigrant families and Roma children who have all benefitted from the support of Sant’Egidio.
Sant’Egidio, founded in 1968 by a small group of students led by Andrea Riccardi, eventually set up shop in Rome’s Trastevere neighborhood, where the community served the poor, the elderly and poor children. They were recognized as an international association of the faithful of pontifical right in 1986.
Their activities soon expanded to other parts of Italy and beyond the country’s borders to conflict areas. Their logo, a dove carrying an olive branch over a rainbow, clearly symbolizes the movement’s commitment to peace.
Their approach to peacemaking was “an artisanal effort,” said Marco Impagliazzo, president of the community, during a brief speech following the anniversary Mass. “The artisans of peace are men and women o …nnDiscussion:nn” ai_name=”RocketNews AI: ” start_sentence=”Can I tell you more about this article?” text_input_placeholder=”Type ‘Yes'”]