Friars Stanisław JAROMI, Kazimierz FRANKIEWICZ, and Tomasz TĘGOWSKI recently led a group of pilgrims from Poland on a Franciscan Environmental Pilgrimage to Italy.
On April 27, 2023, Friar Michael LASKY, the Delegate General for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC), received them at the Friary of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe (Casa Kolbe) in Rome for a time of sharing over coffee and tea. The topics discussed included various JPIC initiatives in the Order, as well as specific projects in Poland—including the positive effect of herbal remedies for common ailments. This is a specialty of Friar Tomasz and some of the pilgrims. The discussion included ways in which we can better carry out the vision presented in Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’.
Encouraged by Pope Francis, who is known to enjoy an occasional “mate” (an Argentinian herbal drink), we are all called to be mindful that: “We are losing our attitude of wonder, of contemplation, of listening to creation and thus we no longer manage to interpret in it what Benedict XVI calls ‘the rhythm of the love-story between God and man.’“ (Pope Francis, General Audience, June 5, 2013).
Friar Michael LASKY