Impressions from Rome

Twenty two people have now gathered in Rome for the Catholic Social Services Australia development program in Catholic identity in service. From five States of Australia, and from a range of service and other leadership positions, the members of the group have already spent a fair bit of time travelling, meeting, praying and eating together.
Over the first five days, this group interaction has been built around a fairly steady round of meeting people, visiting Churches and other sites, liturgies and other organised sessions, walking the streets and enjoying casual meals. The combination of meeting people here and visiting sites at the centre of Catholic thought and practice have been at the core of the experience to date.
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The ‘central agencies’ of the Church are remote to most Catholics – they work in a complex system of networks, and on a very wide range of issues. Visiting sites – even just offices – can make a difference to one’s understanding of them, and engagement with them. Meeting key players is even better.
Our meetings with leaders of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum (which is concerned with the service mission of the Church) and the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace presented human faces to both these bodies. At each of these the Cardinal in charge was among those we met. They spoke about the issues they are engaged with – spiritual development of those working on behalf of the Church, climate change, refugees were all firmly on the agenda – and of their interaction with Australia. They seemed interested and pleased that we had visited. We prayed with each of the Cardinals. Among other things, some of us will now approach the recent encyclicals of particular interest to these two organisations – God is Love and Charity and Truth, respectively – in a different light, having discussed (albeit very briefly) some elements of them with people close to their development.
Briefings by people from Caritas Internationalis and the Sant’Egidio Community also extended our engagement with the broader Church. There were issues where we shared a common passion – spirituality, service, injustice and international solidarity. And there were pathways forward: cooperation across nations, groups and religions; advocacy growing out of service and analysis; deepening of our own commitment and spirituality. It was inspirational.
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The grandeur of St Peter’s, St Ignatius’ and many other churches; the magnificence of the depictions of religious themes, and the very strong presence of the ecclesiastical hierarchy were all part of the experience. Our participation in a general audience with the Pope was a highlight – we were among thousands, but were nevertheless part of a substantial interaction between Pope and people from around the world. We were among the groups whose presence was acknowledged, and we prayed with the Pope and all others present.
Many have also commented on the linkages between faith and the physical environment that were sensed during Mass with our group in one of the chapels underneath St Peters. The same applied to a tour of the archaeological excavations, the ‘scavi’, that have corroborated the burial of St Peter under where the main altar of S Peter’s now stands.
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For believers in Jesus Christ, praying with others can be a powerful experience. A number of our encounters were conducive to prayer: we prayed with the two Cardinals we met, with the Pope, at our own Eucharistic gatherings, and with the community at Sant’Egidio. It was an honour at Sant’Egidio to be part of a gathering with some dozens of Bishops, and a Russian Orthodox delegation, whose leader spoke so warmly about the need for unity, and about his deep love and respect for the community and its work.
Informal discussions within the group dovetailed with visits and liturgies. One feature of these was the start they made on thinking through the implications of all of this for Catholic social services in Australia. That remains a priority for the group. Deepening our own spirituality is one theme that has emerged – deepening our ability to find God in the face of the person we serve. Another is to keep a wide perspective – it’s not just about us!
It is early days still – we depart today for four weeks based in Leuven, Belgium.
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And then there has been the general atmosphere, the food, shopping, etc. All experienced in a very convivial environment, and from a pleasant base in the friendly and well positioned Irish College.
Many speak often of the family members back in Australia. DF