Edition of Friday, October 16

An article in L'Osservatore Romano describes Franciscanism as a female genealogy of freedom.

Tv2000, the television channel operated by the Italian Bishops’ Conference, is presenting a docu-series titled Francesco per davvero: Indagine sul santo di Assisi to mark the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi.

Written and presented by Alessandro Sortino, the series examines Franciscan history and spirituality through the locations associated with the saint's life. The program portrays Francis as a human figure navigating personal weaknesses and the decision to live the Gospel. Sister Daniela Cancilla, founder of the Sisters of the Little Testament of Francis in Gubbio, appears in the series.

The series also details how the saint received his name. Although his mother, Donna Pica, baptized him with the name of the Baptist, his father, Pietro di Bernardone, named him Francesco.

The Altarpiece of Saint Clare in the Basilica of Saint Clare in Assisi is one of the oldest hagiographical panels in the medieval West dedicated to a female saint. Created in 1283 by the Master of Saint Clare, the artwork illustrates eight scenes from the life of the saint, such as her religious consecration, her death, and the miracle of the Eucharist.

Miriam Francesca Bianchi observes that the faces of women in Franciscanism often appear more discreetly in art than those of Saint Francis. She suggests this difference in visibility reflects how communities decide which stories to pass on through visual language, which served as a primary way to educate and remember events in a society where few people could read.

Sacramentine sisters maintain continuous adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at their house of spirituality in Pietralata, Rome. The sisters divide themselves into shifts to ensure the Eucharist is never left unattended, fulfilling a mission of 24-hour worship.

The Institute of the Sacramentine Sisters of Bergamo was founded in 1882 by Geltrude Comensoli, who requested that her worshippers be present at all hours. Members of the order act as watchers of the Eucharist, remaining before the tabernacle to contemplate the bread and wine transformed into the body and blood of Christ. Sister Lorena Bonardi describes the community's role as being present in the world through this constant vigil.

Director Liliana Cavani said she would make Clare of Assisi the protagonist of a future film about Francis of Assisi. Cavani told L'Osservatore Romano that without Clare, the message of poverty and fraternity established by the Saint of Assisi would have lacked continuity and memory.

The 93-year-old director has explored the life of Francis through two films and a television miniseries. Her earlier works include the 1966 Rai miniseries Francesco d’Assisi, the 1972 film version, and the 1989 film Francesco, which featured Helena Bonham-Carter as Clare. In the 2014 Rai miniseries Francesco, the role of Clare was played by Sara Serraiocco.

Cavani, who approaches the subject from a secular perspective, stated that the fraternity proposed by Francis remains relevant as a response to global crises, wars, and violence.

Nadia Terranova argues that the word peace is a revolutionary concept rooted in active labor rather than passivity. Writing for L'Osservatore Romano, Terranova explains that the etymology of peace, derived from roots such as pax, pag, and pak, signifies the act of fastening or joining things together.

Terranova describes making peace as a dynamic and deliberate process of mending that requires ingenuity, industriousness, and the strength to put ideas into practice. She notes that the word is often misunderstood as being inert or naive, yet she links the concept to the necessity of disobedience, which involves identifying and rejecting existing paths to find new ways of acting.

The Diocese of Verona will host an art therapy day titled L’arte che cura at the Casa Nazareth Day Center in Corrubbio di San Pietro in Cariano.

The Vicariate of Valpolicella organized the meeting and workshop in collaboration with the diocese's health ministry, the ADOA organization, and the Spazio Aperto social cooperative.

Bishop Antonio Suetta joined the Diocese of Ventimiglia–San Remo for a diocesan missionary vigil on Friday, October 16, at the San Rocco parish in Vallecrosia. The gathering prepared the community for the 100th World Mission Day under the theme "One in Christ, united in mission."

Father Ramzi Saadé shared his testimony regarding his work with Muslims who wish to become Catholic. He leads Ananie, a service that helps parishes welcome Muslims in reception.

During the vigil, the diocese referenced Bishop Suetta's pastoral letter, "There is no greater love," which focuses on charity and announcing God's love to local Muslims. Drawing inspiration from Saint Francis's meeting with Sultan Malik al-Kamil, the letter suggests three approaches: selfless hospitality, consistent Christian living, and announcing the Gospel with freedom and respect. Starting in the 2026/2027 pastoral year, the Office of Pastoral Catechesis and the diocesan Caritas will offer a training program.

The Diocese of Dourados began its Diocesan Pastoral Assembly on October 16, 2026, at the Instituto Pastoral de Dourados (IPAD). The two day meeting concludes on October 17, 2026, and brings together various Church leaders to plan evangelization efforts for the diocese.

Participants include priests, representatives from religious houses, coordinators of parish pastoral and economic councils, and leaders of diocesan movements and services. Theology seminarians are also attending. Guided by the Diretrizes Gerais da Ação Evangelizadora da Igreja no Brasil (DGAE) 2026–2032, the group is working to develop pastoral paths for the coming years.

Father André Márcio Nogueira de Souza, the executive secretary of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB) West 1 Region, serves as the assembly advisor.