A Moment Etched in Memory: The 2020 Urbi et Orbi Blessing

The date, March 27, 2020, remains a stark reminder for many. As the world grappled with the burgeoning COVID-19 pandemic, pope Francis delivered an extraordinary prayer and blessing Urbi et Orbi (to the city and the world) in a deserted and rain-soaked St. Peter’s Square. This event transcended a mere religious ceremony; it became a potent symbol of hope,unity,strength,and unwavering faith amidst unprecedented global turmoil.

Urbi et Orbi blessing in 2020″>

Even now, five years later, and despite facing health challenges [[3]], Pope Francis remains a pivotal figure, not only for the Catholic Church but for the world at large.His continued calls for fraternity, solidarity, peace, and social justice resonate deeply in an increasingly complex global landscape.

“Day of Hope” Commemoration: A latin American Broadcast

To commemorate the fifth anniversary of this pivotal moment, infobae live, an Argentine web channel, will broadcast a special program throughout Latin America on March 27th. Titled Day of Hope: 5 Years After the Orbis Station of Pope Francis, the program aims to foster reflection on the present and inspire hope for the future, guided by the Pope’s message.

The broadcast will feature prominent figures from various sectors, including the Church, the judiciary, journalism, and academia, from Latin America and beyond. These individuals will share their insights on the impact of the Station World event and Pope Francis’s influence on contemporary society. The program will also include a live link to Vatican Media, with contributions from Massimiliano Menichetti, Deputy Editorial Director of Vatican Media, and Paula Guardia Bourdin from the Infobae studio in Argentina.

The Genesis of the “day of Hope” Initiative

The Day of Hope initiative originated in Latin America in 2022. It was conceived through a collaborative effort involving several organizations, including the Institute for Global Dialog and the Culture of the Meeting, the Latin American Episcopal Council (Celam), the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon (Ceama), the Panamazzonica Ecclesial Network (repam), the Interamerican confederation of Catholic education (CIEC), the religious orders of Latin America and the Caribbean (Clar), Caritas of Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Argentine Episcopal Conference (CEA), with the support of the Dicastery for Communication. This event is part of the broader initiatives leading up to the Jubilee 2025.

Distinguished Guests and Speakers

The Day of Hope program boasts an extraordinary lineup of speakers, including:

• Cardinal Michael Czernny, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Integral Human Progress
• Cardinal Pedro Barreto Jimeno, President of Repam
• Paolo Ruffini, Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication
• Monsignor Lucio Ruiz, secretary of the Dicastery for Communication
• Monsignor Raúl Pizarro Travers, General Secretary of the CEA
• Monsignor Lizardo Estrada, Secretary General of Celam
• Monsignor Pedro Brassesco, Deputy Secretary General of Celam
• dr. Ricardo Lorenzetti, Judge of the Supreme Court of Argentine Justice
• Austen Ivereigh, Writer and Biographer of Pope Francis
• Father Daniel Groody, Migration Expert and Vice-President of the University of Notre Dame
• Gabriella Sacco, Director of the institute for Global Dialogue and the Culture of the Meeting

Revisiting the Pope’s Message: A Call to Unity

The broadcast will delve into key themes, including the enduring relevance of the Station World event, it’s impact on global society, the importance of hope in a world facing numerous challenges, and the role of Pope Francis’s leadership in recent years [[1]].The program will revisit Pope Francis’s powerful words from that night:

With the storm, the make-up of those stereotypes with which we masked our “ego” always worried about their own image has fallen; and once again, that (blessed) common belonging to which we cannot subtract us has remained discovered: belonging as brothers.
Pope Francis, March 27, 2020

The broadcast will feature exclusive clips from the Station World event, allowing viewers to relive the moment and analyze its importance in today’s context. The program will conclude with an invitation to the public to continue commemorating this gesture of unity and hope every March 27th, remembering Pope Francis’s message from that night in March 2020: Nobody saves himself, and we realized that we were on the same boat.