On Friday, May 29, 2026, the solidarity telethon “With the Heart, in the Name of Francis” began. The event is organized by the friars of the Sacred Convent of St. Francis in Assisi. The event coordinator, Friar Enzo FORTUNATO, stated: “Yesterday’s first evening revealed something extraordinary: Italians want to stand with the most vulnerable. May St. Francis bless every act of love toward the least among us. I have a quote from [actor, singer] Sal DA VINCI: ‘When you do good, you feel blessed by God the Father and by men.’ We shall continue until June 30.”
The charity concert was hosted by Carlo CONTI and broadcast live from the upper square of the Basilica of St. Francis on RAI 1 [Italian public broadcasting]. The broadcast was a resounding success. Viewership was up compared to last year, with peaks of 2,800,000 viewers and an 18.3% share. A rebroadcast of the event will air on Sunday, June 28, at approximately 4:00 p.m. on RAI 1.
One of the evening’s most moving moments was the testimony from those who work on the front lines, welcoming and caring for those in need. One volunteer, Pasquale PADULANO, works at the Padre Elia Alleva Reception Center, also known as the “Mensa del Carmine” [Soup Kitchen of the Carmine]. He described the activities of this historic landmark which assists the needy near the Shrine Basilica of Santa Maria del Carmine Maggiore in Naples, Italy. Father Diego DALLE CARBONARE, the Provincial Superior of the Comboni Missionaries in Egypt and Sudan, and Sister Elena RASTELLO, a sister with the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, spoke about the projects being carried out in Sudan. Devastated by civil war, Sudan is trying to rebuild its schools and support the education of young people and women.
Finally, Monica DE ANGELI, the General Director of the San Francesco Community in Monselice (Padua), and Stefania SINIGAGLIA, a psychotherapist who also works there, talked about the Community’s work with drug addicts and its “mother-and-child” program which assists young mothers with substance abuse issues and their young children, and helps them build pathways toward independence in a safe and structured environment.
Monica DE ANGELI gave a more in-depth account on “Parole Povere,” a podcast produced by friars of the Basilica of St. Francis. It is available on YouTube at https://youtu.be/_DifP9YwNzU?si=8rWIl-RB0soQp6nO and on other streaming platforms.
The solidarity telethon will continue until June 30, 2026. Donations can be made by making a landline call or sending an SMS to 45515 , or you may donate online at www.conilcuore.info.
“The Franciscan community thanks RAI leadership, who have supported this extraordinary solidarity project for twenty-four years,” added Friar Enzo FORTUNATO. “Thanks to RAI Prime Time Entertainment Director Williams DI LIBERATORE, Prime Time Entertainment Structure Chief Cristiano D’AGOSTINI, and the entire large RAI family, who once again provided their best professionals to produce this solidarity event. Thanks to Carlo CONTI and the many artists who donated their voices for St. Francis, ensuring that each charitable contribution reaches people who suffer and ask for help. Thanks to the police force, who once again ensured that the event took place in complete safety. Thanks to our supporting partners Eni and Poste Italiane, for their commitment to projects that uplift and support humanity. Thanks, also, to those who gave us their testimony on stage; they showed us what is happening around us.”
The initiative is promoted by the Custody of the Sacred Convent of St. Francis in Assisi and RAI together with Eni and Poste Italiane as supporting partners. Fibraweb serves as the technology partner.
To support With the Heart in the Name of Francis of Assisi, until June 30, 2026, please donate two euros to 45515 via SMS from a Fastweb, Vodafone, WindTre, TIM, Iliad, PosteMobile, Coop Voce, or Tiscali mobile phone. Or you may donate five or ten euros via landline calls through TIM, Fastweb + Vodafone, WindTre, Tiscali, and Geny Communications. Or you may donate five euros via landline calls through Convergenze and PosteMobile. To learn more about all the projects, go to: www.conilcuore.info.
For information:
Web – www.conilcuore.info
Facebook: @conilcuoreassisi
X (Twitter): @francescoassisi
Instagram: @sanfrancescoassisi
Hashtag: #conilcuore
How to donate:
Web – www.conilcuore.info
SMS and landline calls – 45515
until June 30, 2026
IBAN: IT64R0200838278000103746115
Press Office – Andrea ROSSI
Sacred Convent of St. Francis
