
“That the aged, marginalized, and those who have no one may find “ even within the huge cities of the world “
opportunities for encounter and solidarity”. This is the universal prayer intention that Pope Francis proposed for the month of June, which was shared on the website (www.apmej.org) of the Pope”s Worldwide Prayer Network (Apostleship of Prayer). “In our cities the elderly and sick are neglected. Can we ignore
it?” the Pope asked, speaking in Spanish in a video released on the network
with subtitles in six languages (www.thepopevideo.org).
“Our cities should be characterized above all by solidarity, which entails not only giving to the needy, but also taking responsibility for one another and fostering a culture of encounter”, the Pope said, explaining the monthly prayer intention .”Will you join me in my prayer?”, he asked. In support of Pope Francis” words, the video presents a series of significant scenes. The central theme shows the story of two young street musicians who decide to perform next to a marginalized man, who until that moment had been ignored by every passerby. They give him all of the money they collected for their artistic performance. This gesture truly expresses the importance of taking care of those in need. The video also displays the scene of a child who embraces and accompanies a senior, a handshake exchanged between different generations, and a group of volunteers dedicated to collecting aid.
This video, as well as the Network”s previous videos, was produced by the “La Machi” agency, which handles production and distribution in collaboration with the Vatican Television Center, which recorded the video. The website offers instructions for becoming “part of the Pope”s Worldwide Network of Prayer” and for getting in contact with the national offices in different countries. The website offers the possibility of downloading “materials for sharing the Pope”s monthly intentions”, as well as the option of making a donation to help make “the world aware of the challenges humanity faces”.