July 25 – The history and charisma of Father Oreste Benzi arrive at the World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro thanks to the play “Con le scarpe sempre ai piedi,” edited and interpreted by the artistic group from the Pope John XXIII Community, who will be on stage at the Odhylo Filho theater tomorrow in Maracanà. The Community also participates in World Youth Day with another event: an ethnic music concert with the group “Asa Branca,” who performed yesterday in front of thousands of young people in the hollow acoustic center of Maracanà. Proposing original songs and reworking music and dance from different cultures, the group retold the stories behind the encounter with the poorest and most marginalized people the Community comes into contact with on a daily basis. “We are delighted that these artistic expressions have been selected among the events to be included in the program of World Youth Day – says Giovanni Ramonda, general manager of the Community – as a community we participate in the WYD with our young people from Italy but also Latin America: Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina. Pope Francis’ style – he adds – is very reminiscent of that of Don Oreste Benzi: mercy, simplicity, transparency, and love for justice and for the poor. He is a gift for everyone but especially for young people, who saw him as a credible guide, able to give them a ‘nice encounter with Jesus’, as Don Benzi used to say, and to bring them closer to the Church.”