We are in the first decade of the Third Millennium and allowing a preliminary assessment. The Holy Year of 2000 in Rome has opened new frontiers for the development of its citizens, residents or visitors. It increased the quality of life in the city,  the birthplace of the Church which, by definition, is the host city and, therefore, the creator and producer of the common good.

One of the challenges

It is natural for someone who has always lived in Rome to note that, in addition to its  uniqueness envied by all, the city does not make sense of the vast civilization that its history and its beauty deserved.

The civilization of a city and the quality of life of its inhabitants, who roam /wander the streets every day, is measured the style of those who/that "run" to a destination and those that move more slowly. Not everyone is properly protected by the security,  which should guard against the danger, ensuring social justice and decent living conditions.

Some people is visible and some people – few or many others-  is  "invisible" having a different skin color, speaking unknown languages, living in the general distraction and concealment, than we realize when it happens a chronic episode . Here, the trial takes place for indifference, which also drops rapidly. On the other hand, who does not exist, why should he be remembered? In particular, if he is  elderly (who lived so much life ...! ... For those who may still be useful ?...) or if he is a gypsy  (... just a gypsy).
The problem is that there are many young people among them, and even more tragic,  because they don’t  see them in the just perspective is to deny the future of humanity itself and of the history that accompanies it. Just look at our society (in the sense that Rome is a portrait that includes many faces l), even though everything is a challenge for young and old people.

Old and young people

The elders, defined papy boomers or otherwise young , an ever more  evident presence  (in 2020 an elder of three will be over 65 years), which shows a face inversely proportional to the possibilities of prevention, treatment and support needs related to health, in a country of aging. Few older people economically independent, many are those who have difficulties in achieving a dignified existence, desirable recognition of a life almost always hard (think of war, poverty that occurred, the effort to build a future for younger generations).
Young people: we might ask what is the cause of violence among young people, with their behavior of thugs and their apparent refusal to communicate, family crisis, with the highest number of separations, divorces, annulments of marriage (in the " desperate dorms "one in five is an estranged husband). They show irresponsibility towards children, victims of the events that do not understand and destined to a future not peacefull or easy.
And foreign immigrants, of which we only use the intelligence and strength, exploiting the poverty that pushes them beyond their borders and makes dock in the western world, which almost always gives the care of ours loved ones and heavier work, regardless of their actual capacity. However, it is better don’ t  feel overwhelmed by the negativity of the details of everyday life.

Just move the "thought" and we can expect to change things.

The Alphabet of Hope

A change in the “thinking”  will be provided by three letters: A (“Accoglienza”) as host, B (“Bene comune”) as a common good, C (“Città” “Condivisione”) as "human city "and sharing. They are part of the "Alphabet of Hope" and have accompanied the study and comparison in the Social Week of Italian Catholics in Reggio Calabria. I found them as a good reason for thought in this time of economic crisis and values, to bring down the closure and distrust each other, and participate in our understanding of phenomena that require openness, understanding and responsibility.

These three simple letters are the beginning of the alphabet: while together, possibly in combination with the other, they are the basis of our logical thinking to communicate with human beings, constituting the very essence of our existence with others.
There are many stereotypes that characterize our way of communicating, even if I’m convinced that, deep down, there is a strong and often unconscious desire to be with others, to believe that this is possible and really to want to accept. At the end be sufficient enough, though difficult, for example, make the punctuation on us than others. In other words, let's start with us to ask: if we accept the other, if we act for the common good if we are builders of a city suitable for men, women, children, elderly, foreigners, gypsies.
I also think it's a cliché to talk about the family, globalization, migration processes, youth violence, not really knowing what we are talking about and what it means in reality. And that's the problem. If we reflect us more if we look more, certainly welcome and  will contribute to a better common good.

In this regard I would like to mention the exchange of telegrams between the President and the Pope on his recent trip to Malta to discuss immigration.

"The reception is a must. The old continent is now called to assist and accommodate, in a spirit of solidarity and without prejudice, seeking refuge," says the President's message. Benedict XVI recalls the duty of Christians to the drama of immigration that is "... a great challenge of our time that we all must respond. We have to work, however, so that everyone can live a dignified life in their homeland, and if they come here, do everything possible to find a place of living. It is therefore necessary to find the creativity to meet these challenges. "

Searching for meaning

These provocations encourage us to ask: What means so to Welcome, what means the Common good, and again, what means City of humans and Share?

To Welcome you can highlight at least some of the consequences.

One is the family, is unknown in the sense that the emotional relationships among its members are always nominated, its fragility between birth and the decline of life, reconciliation between work and relationships between including unique and traditions and cultural differences between group identity and links generational differences responsible. Then, speaking of the family as a "guide" social action "cradle to grave”, to every human being that can not be counted it as irreplaceable" natural place "where educating for freedom, responsibility of members, protecting them while opening them to religious commitment, political, economic, ethical, ideological. In other words, a growth of consciousness and responsibility towards the common good.

This can happen with a genuine welcome of the child who comes into the world and the refusal to end the life  suffering  from incurable diseases through which, superficially, is called euthanasia.

The Common Good: essential area of welfare for individuals and for society that must take into account not only its members , but everybody else,  or not concerned only for the care of its intimacy, its privacy, private welfare, but capable of opening and projecting outward, where solidarity takes the place of selfishness or egotism, working for a new "lifestyle."
Town of human beings and Sharing: the host is part as the common good. Only two can build a city as a man who shares and try to solve the immense problems that arise from living together.

Resources

I’ve spoken of observation and reflection. Reflecting on the above (we shall need rivers of words to describe a few considered aspects), I would add another to the three letters of the alphabet: R for Resources. We are the resources to change things. The first shift in thinking should continue with courage and strength the change of the action. Act, if we believe in someone who is Up and at the same time within us. Thinking well, what prevents us from changing your view of things in the world? In general distraction, just accept the challenge of accommodating low-life born in the margins. We accept that it is to fulfill the desire of desires: to be happy.

You may be in the midst of many difficulties?

Yes, if you bridge the gap between need and response. Helping  those who are worse off means look around and move towards, rather than waiting  for those who need to come to order. We remember that the needs are not only economic and increasingly, they are also the lack of involvement, misunderstanding, and therefore, isolation and marginalization.
Sharing life together, that only overweight , can make it light and ultimately helps society not going wild and being less selfish.