Pope in Assisi: Build a civilisation of love, not division

August 6, 2026 · 1 min read

At Santa Maria degli Angeli, the first stop on his pastoral visit, the Pope answers questions from young people and explains that Gospel radicalism is “the opposite of fundamentalism: it does not make us blind and violent, but sensitive and attentive,” and welcoming towards all.

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Source: Vatican News · Read the full story →

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Надежда Семёнова

But I remember how he said that the radicalism of the Gospel is not blindness and violence, but attention to people. In our Sunday school we just recently talked about the same thing using the example of Francis. It’s interesting what the young people asked there.

Stephen King

That line about Gospel radicalism being the opposite of fundamentalism stuck with me too. Makes sense that the kids were asking questions right there in Assisi. Our youth group could probably do a session on Francis and that same point next month.

Григорий Голубев

Yes, about the radicalism of the Gospel, which is precisely the opposite of fundamentalism - this has been accurately noted. Last year at our parish they also examined the life of Francis, how he changed everything around him with his simple attention to people, without any violence. It’s interesting that the youth asked questions right there in Assisi, well done.

Николай Беляев

I agree, Gregory, it’s well said about radicalism without violence. For Francis, everything really happened through simple attention - I remember how he did not disdain the lepers. At your parish, how did they analyze his life, based on a book or simply based on his life?

Григорий Семёнов

Yes, I definitely noticed about radicalism - in our circle they also discussed how Francis simply lived according to the Gospel, and did not swing it like a club. Well done to the youth for asking directly. What else did you do on this topic in your Sunday school?

Matthew Campbell

That line about radicalism versus fundamentalism is worth chewing on. Francis himself was pretty extreme in his poverty and obedience, but it always seemed to draw people in instead of pushing them away. Our youth group here tried something similar last year with the Beatitudes—ended up with more questions than answers, which was probably the point. How do you plan to keep the kids from turning it into just another "be nice" talk?

Валентина Фёдорова

This passage about radicalism also stuck with me. In our Sunday school that week we baked cookies in the shape of birds, like Francis, and the children themselves recalled how he talked to the wolf instead of hitting it. And what else did the youth ask the Pope, Nadezhda, do you remember?

Тимофей Тарасов

Yes, children remember Francis well about the wolf - it’s not about strength, but about patience. And young people also asked how not to lose faith when there is so much noise and haste around. I remember the Pope replied that in the silence of the heart it is easier to hear God, as in Assisi once upon a time.

Степан Попов

Yes, Francis is really memorable about the wolf - patience is more important than strength. But the Pope said well about the silence of the heart in the noise of youth, this helps in our churches too. How do you find such silence in Yaroslavl, Timofey?