The narrow way

Once the pandemic has faded, a narrow street remains which, if desired, embraces every hour and every day. A different geopolitical world remains: the Soviet Union in difficulty, small-small Europe, the USA and China fighting for dominance, Africa in revolt and flight, the Middle East inflammable. And ours is a steep path, like the one that descends and climbs up from the monastery of San Giorgio in Jericho in the desert of Israel, but it can be traveled with a good baggage of human values. It is an even more impervious journey for those who believe: it is steep, slippery, full of pitfalls, like life.

Hospitality is sacred for everyone, especially for those who have faith. We open the doors to those who flee and seek light, despite the fears and a veil of selfishness cultivated to a certain extent by everyone, under the radar and even, often, in an unacknowledged way during the years of fear and suspicion. How do you bar the door like with thieves?

Unfortunately, there is no peace not only in Kiev. There is an attacked Ukraine that suffers (like the Russian people forced to the front by Putin), asks for weapons but wants peace like everyone else. You are fully entitled to defend yourself; Sure, those death scenes are terrible.
Helping them is a duty. And when you behead prisoners, like ISIS does, you know which side you're on. There are no alibis that hold.
Hands extended to others will return, despite the fears of the contacts that the welcome disinfectants have left us on edge.
Fears will go away and we will hug each other again.
Finally!

The solidarity tempered by months of suspicions that, like shadows, have drawn on the asphalt the many human frailties, those that we saw, that evening with Pope Francis, alone, in the deserted square of St. Peter's, spectral but also an image of hope.
There is a "return to the private" wind, of closed doors, of a desire for walls (even electronic ones, the "bright" idea of some European state) but there is also a great desire to meet, to immerse in greenery, in art, in the search for the other.
It's the new advancing.

The earthquake in Turkey has awakened sharing even in pain and the impetus to do, as during the Covid nurses and doctors, priests and pharmacists.
That cradle and the baby (and the others) left in Milan by a sweet but poor mother ask everyone to intervene to protect life in all its forms (from birth to death, to surrogate motherhood).
The Christians persecuted (and killed) in the world cannot leave anyone indifferent.
You can live well, but also stop the destruction of the earth from the Amazon to Africa in the hands of political games and exaggerated and immoral business. How do you remain indifferent? How many times does Pope Francis repeat it!

Yes, the one undertaken for a few months is a narrow path, always suspended between generosity and selfishness, between openings and closures, but it is the only border line that can try to reconcile defense against an invasion with peace; humanity and barbarism; democracy or dictatorship; the biblical exodus from Africa and the Middle East has begun.
It cannot be faced with the Italian balances and the too many useless words of Europe; the excesses of the consumer society are evident as the new poverties grow.
Are you watching? There are many things that are not shared in politics, but there is the need to create a network, meals, beds, houses and to engage personally as in the post-war period.
The usual little party theater is on the air, then the absolute need to give work, to cultivate relationships, to build a new mentality remains. They are all obligatory "steps"; for those who have faith: "more". There's no mask that holds!

Gian Mario Ricciardi
NP May 2023