New chapter for the International Youth Centre “San Lorenzo” in Rome

On 27th June, Fr. Alexandre Awi Mello Secretary of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life presided the Solemn Mass closing the academic year in the International Youth Centre “San Lorenzo” in Rome. The celebration was also a thanksgiving for this place and for over 30 years of service that Emmanuel Community offered to the Centre and to all the young people who visited it.

In the homily, reffering to the Gospel of the day, Fr. João Chagas, Head of the Youth Office of the DLFV, reminded that “a tree is recognized by its fruit”. He stressed that the numerous fruits and inspirations born in “San Lorenzo” Centre help discovering the identity and mission of the Emmanuel Community, as well as the importance of this place, inspired by the Pope John Paul II in 1983. He mentionned inter alia many hours of prayers and adorations with a presence of youth, conversions and vocation discernement, inspiring meetings among young people, bishops and cardinals of the Roman Curia, charity works and evagelization on the squares of Rome.

International Youth Centre “San Lorenzo” was inaugurated on 13th March 1983 at Via Pfeiffer 24, in the vicinity of the St Peter’s Square. Inspired by the Pope John Paul II who called it “a forge of genuine young Christians” it has become a home to many young people coming to Rome from different countries and continents. Created in the year of the Jubilee of Redemption, has been known as a symbol of the care of the Holy Father for the youth and a custody of the Jubilee Cross which has been offered by the Pope to the young people in 1984 and nowadays is known as the main World Youth Days symbol.

Over the last 30 years the international Emmanuel Community served the Centre, animating prayers and activities together with young people from different countries. This mission is now entrusted to the Shalom Catholic Community who will undertake it this autumn.