Pray with Italy, Sunday, June 15, 2025
Lectionary Selection: John 16:12-15
Prayers for Italy
The lectionary reading speaks into a time of grief and confusion for the disciples as Jesus warns them that he will leave them – and seeks to reassure them that their grief will turn to joy.
For Italy’s largely Roman Catholic population, this reading has a particular resonance at present, given the sadness felt at the very recent passing of Pope Francis, so often an advocate for the voiceless, and now joy at the appointment of his successor, who is expected to continue that legacy.
Across the world, we are feeling confusion and grief at the apparent collapse of old norms and certainties. At such a time, the constancy of God and the Gospel message matter more than ever. Our comfort and strength lie therein; it is for us to model his example in all that we do with and for others and, in doing so, rejoice.
May those who fear to be outspoken advocates for those on the margins – in Italy and beyond – be confident in their work; may those who suffer the indifference and hostility of society know His love.
Amen
Mission Moment from Italy
Calabria, the “toe” of boot-shaped Italy, is a region characterized by fertile fruit fields and stunning beaches. Yet it is better known for poverty and organized crime. Migrant workers who harvest the tomatoes and citrus fruits that grace Italian tables are often paid a pittance, without contracts, and live in appalling conditions. “Home” for many is a makeshift shelter with no access to electricity or running water.
Mediterranean Hope’s (MH) concern to uphold human dignity led to a small team being planted in Calabria to focus on the plight of these workers back in 2019. Working in collaboration with local bodies, MH went on to establish a social hostel, which is now entering its fourth year. As of 2025, Dambe So, the “house of dignity,” is home to sixty workers, offering stability, comradeship, and support to residents who, in return, pay a realistic rent and, together, share its running. Equally important, it has become a place of encounter for newcomers and locals, helping to dismantle barriers and build bridges through joint projects to upgrade and build community within the local area.
Exploitation, of course, travels with the workers as they follow the seasonal harvests around the country. For that reason, fortified by the success of Dambe So – and thanks to donor support – work is now underway to replicate the model in Saluzzo, in the northern region of Piedmont, where apples and blueberries are harvested later in the year. Beginning with a small pilot, Dambe So Saluzzo will offer the same support to workers in that region and, it is hoped, food for thought for policymakers who do little to safeguard the rights and dignity of those who help to feed us.
Written by Fiona Kendall, European & Legal Affairs Advisor, Mediterranean Hope (FCEI)
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