Pope Leo XIV meets founder of Sant'Egidio Community

Pope Leo XIV met Andrea Riccardi, founder of the Sant'Egidio Community, at the Vatican on Feb. 5 to discuss the Church's role in promoting peace; the meeting took place on the eve of the community's 58th anniversary.

Pope Leo XIV met with Andrea Riccardi, founder of the Sant'Egidio Community, at the Vatican on Feb. 5. The meeting occurred on the eve of the community's 58th anniversary. They discussed the role Christians and the Church are called to play in promoting peace amid various conflicts around the world. The conversation placed particular emphasis on ecumenical and interreligious dialogue and referred to the spirit of Assisi. Known details: - The meeting took place at the Vatican on Feb. 5 and was announced in a statement. - The occasion coincided with the 58th anniversary of the Sant'Egidio Community, a lay Catholic movement founded in Rome in 1968 by Andrea Riccardi. - Sant'Egidio focuses on prayer, solidarity with the poor (including homeless people and the elderly), and peace, and operates in more than 70 countries. - Participants highlighted ecumenical and interreligious dialogue and referenced the spirit of Assisi initiated by Pope John Paul II in 1986 to reject violence in the name of religion and foster encounter and reconciliation. Summary: The meeting underscored shared priorities of peace, dialogue, and care for the poor between the Holy See and the Sant'Egidio Community. It took place as the community marked its 58th anniversary. Undetermined at this time.