Reconciliation and Shared Humanity: A Meeting at the Jesuit Curia in Rome
On 12 December 2024, a meeting on the theme of reconciliation was held at the Jesuit General Curia in Rome. The event featured personal testimonies from Mrs. Agnese Moro, daughter of former Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro, who was kidnapped, held captive for 55 days, and ultimately killed by members of the Red Brigades in 1978, and Mrs. Adriana Faranda, a former member of this extremist group. Faranda joined the Red Brigades at the age of 24 and was sentenced to 30 years in prison for her involvement in Moro’s kidnapping and the killing of five men of his escort.
The meeting was part of a formation program for Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) employees, focusing on mission and identity. From December 9 to 15, participants from various local and regional offices, particularly those serving as focal points for mission and identity, gathered in Nemi, near Rome. Beside them, the event at the Curia was also open to other attendees.
Father General Arturo Sosa opened the meeting with a welcoming address. He underlined the emphasis on reconciliation as central to all Jesuit works, as articulated in Decree 1: “Companions in a Mission of Reconciliation and Justice” of the 36th General Congregation. That decree underscores the Society’s commitment to reconciliation with God, humanity, and creation, positioning it as a pivotal aspect of Jesuit mission and ministries. Brother Michael Schöpf, JRS International Director, highlighted the importance of reconciliation in JRS’s mission and underlined the significance of testimony from individuals like Mrs. Moro and Mrs. Faranda. Father Guido Bertagna, an Italian Jesuit, provided context for the meeting, describing the journey of bringing together victims of terrorist attacks and former members of armed groups.
The date of December 12 carries particular significance, marking the beginning of a period of terror that started with the 1969 bombing in Milan’s Piazza Fontana and continued through the mid-1980s, even into the early 2000s. This period saw 428 deaths and over 1,400 injuries. Around 20,000 people were investigated in connection with the armed struggle, 4,200 were imprisoned for crimes related to armed bands or subversive associations, and hundreds received life sentences.
Between 2000 and 2008, private and confidential meetings between victims and former members of armed groups laid the groundwork for reconciliation. This process evolved into public initiatives, retreats, and the creation of “The Book of Encounter” in 2015. Today, this movement continues with community circles, book presentations, and collaborations with similar initiatives across Europe.
Mrs. Moro spoke about the profound pain and trauma she experienced following her father’s abduction and murder. She shared the difficulty of accepting Father Bertagna’s invitation to join a reconciliation group, which involved stepping into uncharted emotional territory and facing criticism from family and friends. Yet, she felt a deep need for justice beyond prison sentences – a need to share her pain, which only grew stronger over the years.
Mrs. Faranda also shared how her meetings with Mrs. Moro brought her immense healing. Over time, their understanding and friendship revealed how close they had become, despite initially belonging to groups that dehumanized one another.For both, the hardest part was the beginning – finding the courage to start a dialogue. There were also moments of crisis when strong emotions required skilled facilitation of the meetings. However, the ultimate result was liberation and reconciliation.
Father Camillo Ripamonti, director of Centro Astalli (the Italian branch of JRS), reflected on the importance of reconciliation in his work with forcibly displaced people. He emphasized the need for spaces where deep listening and encounters can occur, such as those achieved by Mrs. Moro and Mrs. Faranda. These spaces affirm a shared humanity and counter narratives that increasingly depict migrants and refugees as threats.
The event concluded with a Q&A session, followed by closing remarks from Father Elías López-Pérez, facilitator of the JRS meeting in Nemi. He offered a message of hope, reminding participants that reconciliation is always possible, especially when we think of our children and the world we wish to leave them.
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