THE GLOBAL REVOLUTION

Missionary Training Programme 2026

Our commitment as Sisters of Charity to serving the poor, promoting human development and defending peace in so many parts of the world, together with our responsibility as members of today’s humanity, prompted us to enroll in the series of conferences that make up the Missionary Training Programme of the Diocese of Rome. Father Giulio Albanese, an Italian missionary and journalist, belongs to the Comboni Missionaries Congregation and is director of the Office for Social Communications and the Office for Missionary Cooperation among the Churches of the Vicariate of Rome. He introduces the course as follows: “The Missionary Formation Course, entitled ‘The Global Revolution’ is an initiative promoted by the Diocesan Missionary Centre of Rome in collaboration with the editorial staff of Limes magazine. It stems from a desire to interpret current events not only as a sequence of political events, but also as a historical transition that profoundly challenges our conscience. The responsibility of all techniques is fundamental, because Christian spirituality represent a life in accordance with the spirit. We have, on the contrary, the spirit, which gives us the strength to live; on the other hand, there are the daily challenges of the world. The revolution we are talking about goes beyond power games and involves the sense of human coexistence, justice and peace. Before our own eyes, we are witnessing growing chaos, as highlighted by the German people, which calls for a paradigmatic shift. The international community must reflect on the importance of human dignity, denouncing the normalisation of war as a means of conflict resolution. Peace is not the result of force, but requires patient commitment based on dialogue and law. On Saturday,

10 January 2026, the conference began with a presentation by Dr Lucio Caracciolo, founder and editor of Limes magazine, who talked about “The world revolution from Rome’s perspective”since it is a city that is a universal symbol, with an ancient history, and which is not only the capital but also the seat of the Holy See’, the centre of the Christian faith, which has ‘1.4 billion baptised followers spread throughout the world’. The journalist guided us in a profound reflection: in these challenging periods, it is fundamental to find a proper balance and build constructive dialogue in order to address current challenges with responsibility, seeking to understand them, even from a virtual perspective. With all this going on, it’s super important to figure out what’s going on and recognise that we’re facing a challenge. We need to think differently because, in certain ways, we’re all part of history. I hope situations like this help us not only to listen and learn, but also to internalise these moments, transforming them into experiences to share with others.

We often find ourselves perplexed and confused when faced with certain discussions, when we hear people justifying behaviours that we should not accept. Cardinal Vicar Baldo Reina, in his opening remarks, also pointed out that ‘as the Diocese of Rome, we have a responsibility to be fully aware of current issues and to internalise certain concepts’ as well as to ‘offer a different mindset, countering the culture of those who justify war’, because ‘it is always men and women who change history’. Before the debate, Brother Alberto Parise, a Comboni missionary, reflected on Pope Leo’s message for the Day of Peace and attempted to answer the question, ‘How can we live in this world as a Christian community?’ The religious leader urged us to ‘live not in fear but in hope,’ regarding ‘Christian communities as peacemakers, capable of enabling us to experience, in the darkness of gloom, the tangible light of peace, which is Christ risen for us.’