Inauguration of the San Daniele Comboni Community Centre in Castel Volturno

FINALLY, WE MADE IT

On 4^th October, the feast of St Francis of Assisi, Pope Leo XIV released his first apostolic exhortation, Dilexi te (“I Have Loved You”), which speaks of love for the poor, the marginalised, and those discarded by today’s consumerist and individualistic world.

I read it with joy, attention, and passion, as I found myself deeply resonating with Pope Leo’s words. The exhortation was, in fact, practically written with ‘four hands’, as it builds upon a text that Pope Francis had begun writing before leaving this world, intending to offer it to both the Church and society at large, and was later completed by Pope Leo.

There is a passage in the exhortation that strikes me in particular, because it fully reflects our intention to offer our Community Centre, named after our founder St. Daniel Comboni, to the People of God living in Destra Volturno/Pescopagano and to the entire population of Castel Volturno. This is a centre designed to bring together men and women, children, young people, and the elderly from the diverse cultural and national realities present in this challenging and scarred territory.

Here is the passage from the exhortation that I refer to: “Among the structural issues that cannot be resolved from above and urgently require attention are the places, spaces, homes, and cities where the poor live and move. We know: ‘How beautiful are those cities which overcome paralysing mistrust, integrate those who are different and make this very integration a new factor of development! How attractive are those cities which, even in their architectural design, are full of spaces which connect, relate and favour the recognition of others!’ (Evangelii gaudium, 210). At the same time, ‘we cannot fail to consider the effects on people’s lives of environmental deteroration, current models of development, and the throwaway culture’ (Laudato si’, 43). Indeed, ‘the deterioration of the environment and of society affects the most vulnerable people on the planet’ (Laudato si’, 48).” (Dilexi te, 96)

This passage is a collage of phrases taken from key documents of Pope Francis, such as Laudato si’ and Evangelii gaudium, offering a glimpse into the heart of a Pontiff who loved the poor and the marginalised—not only through words and documents but, most importantly, through action and his personal story. It pleases me that Pope Leo, in his first public document, begins precisely with what Pope Francis left unfinished. It is an inheritance that Pope Francis entrusted to him, so that he could continue in the footsteps of a man of God and a prophet of our time.

Our journey and dream for this Community Centre began many years ago, over the thirty years we have lived in Castel Volturno. It was a dream nurtured with Father Sergio Agustoni for four years, alongside the parallel dream of creating an intercultural parish in Destra Volturno. Over time, Father Filippo Ivardi joined us three years ago, and Father Daniel Gbedenya a year ago. We must also remember the Comboni lay missionary Simone Parimbelli, who has been a cornerstone of our apostolic community for four years. Each has contributed enormously to cultivating and realising this dream together.

The territorial parish, bringing together Italians and migrants, came into being in June 2025, encompassing the parish of San Gaetano Thiene in Pescopagano, just one kilometre from Destra Volturno, where we live. Here, we host all the projects of our association, Black and White ETS (Ente del Terzo Settore – Third Sector Organisation: after-school activities, Italian language classes, theatre, and much more), which we have been pursuing with enthusiasm, passion, and determination for 25 years, striving to build bridges rather than walls in this complex and challenging territory.

Inclusion, hospitality, closeness, education, and dignity for all the people we have accompanied and continue to support have always been our shared objectives. We have long wished to offer the people of this area a place of peace, encounter, play, art, and intercultural growth, following the spirit of our founder, Saint Daniele Comboni—a prophet of Africa who constantly encouraged boldness in seeking new paths for dialogue, peace, God’s love, and universal brotherhood and sisterhood.

We believe that the Lord has guided us along the right missionary path. Over the years, we have felt and witnessed Providence at work in the steps we have taken, in the events we have experienced, in the wonderful people we have met, and in the material and other support we have received.

The Lord has surprised us in many ways. I personally thank him from the heart, as I have felt that he truly wanted this Community Centre, the territorial parish, and our presence among the marginalised and vulnerable in Destra Volturno to become a shared mission with the poorest and most discarded members of society in this beautiful yet wounded and scarred land.

Now, the dream has come true! Yet dreaming continues as we look ahead. He will guide us to live His mission even more fully.

Father Daniele Moschetti, MCCJ