At The 3Giorni Di albano i saw A church that is really home for everyone

Reflections by Lorenzo Gabriel Paoletti on 3 days. Languages, only one gospel de La Tenda di Gionata (Albano Laziale, 13-15 June 2025)

"Every time I come to Albano's three days, something I take away."

This year, even if I managed to participate only for a day in the 3Giorni of Albano Laziale, I feel I have brought something precious with me. I use the expression "take away" gently, because what you live in days like this, in reality, remains inside. It does not take: it is received.

The word that best describes this experience for me is welcome.

Reception in the faces of many friends that I have not seen for some time, in the smiles of those who often feel on the phone, and in the bonds that have strengthened with those who had remembered me since last year. It was surprising to recognize us immediately, as if the weather had not passed.

On this day I felt included, part of something great. I found people with whom I prayed to the completed online some time ago, and it was nice to see that the spiritual bond can also become physical, concrete, real.

During the presentation, for me that I had the gift of writing letters to Pope Francis several times and to receive an answer, to see his projected image and the memory of Sister Geneviève, present there in his coffin, deeply struck me. So much that, once I went up to Rome, I felt the need to pass through Santa Maria Maggiore.

It was a day of lightness, the real one, which I hadn't experienced for a long time. But also a day of freedom and truth. Seeing LGBT people live their coming out with serenity and pride, in the light of the sun, alongside religious, religious, pastoral workers and secular consecrated ... it was exciting.

We were all there: lay people, consecrated, religious, pastoral operators. Everyone. As someone would say: Todos, Todos, Todos.

And this is precisely what touched me more: to live, even for a day, a church that really takes home for everyone. A church that listens, that embraces, walking next to it.

Every time i come to Albano Laziale, something i take away.

And again, that something is called hope.