Cardinal Zuppi says facing reality requires being disarmed

Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, president of the Italian Episcopal Conference, stated that the true way to face reality is to be disarmed. He spoke during the International Meeting for Peace in Assisi, an event organized by the Community of Sant'Egidio titled Saint Francis and Peace.

Zuppi noted that Saint Francis of Assisi began his life as a warrior before transforming into a man who used gentleness, compassion, courtesy, and peace. He described peace as a daily dimension that requires being kind.

Bishop Felice Accrocca, who leads the diocese of Assisi, Gualdo Tadino, Nocera Umbra, and Foligno, said the connection between Saint Francis and peace is supported by the saint's authentic writings. Accrocca noted that the saint's biographies document his ability to bring peace to places like Arezzo during times of civil war. He suggested these lessons remain relevant today to address increasing loneliness and the need for a project of humanity.