Registration is now open for the new edition of Percorsi Assisi

A Franciscan perspective on the time of crisis

The title of the fourth edition of the “Percorsi Assisi” training school has been announced

ASSISI (PG), JUNE 8 – “Coming together, expressing oneself, listening, looking at each other, getting to know each other, trying to understand each other, seeking points of contact—all of this is encapsulated in the verb 'to dialogue.'” These words from Pope Francis perfectly capture the experience of study and communal life at the Percorsi Assisi Training School: a full immersion in interdisciplinary lectures, seminars, teamwork, company visits, and themed tours of the medieval town of Assisi, all in search of the common thread that unites the major topics addressed in the fourth edition – conflicts, nutrition, and migration.

From August 26 to September 3, in Assisi, fifty university students, graduates, and young professionals under 35 will take center stage for a week of reflection and discussion on current, interdependent issues, all brought together under the title The Grammar of Crises.

In a time when society and knowledge are rapidly reshaping, and amidst an endless cycle of polarization and conflict, much seems to be losing its substance. It is therefore more urgent than ever to find a solid foundation to rely on. We believe this is solidarity, which means taking responsibility for the vulnerability of others—individuals, families, societies, and peoples—as we seek a shared future. “Life is the art of encounter, even though there are many clashes in life” (Vinicius De Moraes). For this reason, the School aims to foster a healthy exchange of perspectives, knowledge, and experiences, guided by the core values of the Franciscan tradition. These include, for example, a sense of wonder in the face of reality, finding joy amidst conflict, caring for our common home “Sora Nostra Madre Terra,” fostering fraternal solidarity, and respectfully embracing diversity. 

This is the inspiration behind the inter-university advanced education project, sponsored by the Sacred Convent of St. Francis in Assisi and five Italian universities: Politecnico di Milano, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Università Luiss Guido Carli di Roma, Università degli Studi di Macerata, and Università degli Studi di Perugia.

Fra Marco Moroni, OFMConv, Custodian of the Sacred Convent, commented: “The teachings of St. Francis and the magisterium of Pope Francis unquestionably converge on the need to place the inalienable dignity of the person at the center of all reflection and action. Only then will it be possible to dream of and envision a new Humanism and build a world where everyone is guaranteed land, a home, and work. In short, in a word, peace.”

“There is a fundamental, essential recognition that must be made to move toward social friendship and universal fraternity: realizing the value of a human being, the value of a person, always and in any circumstance,” Pope Francis would comment in response. “We must state clearly and firmly that simply being born in a place with fewer resources or less development does not justify some people living with less dignity.”

Within the virtuous circle of solidarity, Percorsi Assisi offers a number of scholarships to encourage participation as much as possible. This year, one scholarship will be dedicated to Brother Daniele Reitano, an alumnus of the School’s first edition who passed away recently.

For more information, visit www.percorsiassisi.it or send an email to: percorsiassisi@sanfrancescoassisi.org