On the occasion of the international conference, which commences today in Rome, to celebrate the 150^th anniversary of the birth of Maria Montessori, Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin sent the following message on behalf of the Holy Father Francis to Professor Benedetto Scoppola, president of the Opera Nazionale Montessori:

Message

PROFESSOR BENEDETTO SCOPPOLA

PRESIDENT OF THE OPERA NAZIONALE MONTESSORI

VIA DI SAN GALLICANO 7, 00153 ROMA

ON THE OCCASION OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE PROMOTED BY THE AFOREMENTIONED ASSOCIATION TO CELEBRATE THE 15OTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF MARIA MONTESSORI, THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS ADDRESSES A CORDIAL GREETING TO YOU, EXPRESSING APPRECIATION FOR THE INITIATIVE INTENDED TO COMMEMORATE THIS DISTINGUISHED EDUCATOR, AMONG THE MOST EMINENT FIGURES OF TWENTIETH CENTURY CULTURE, WHO LEFT A PROFOUND MARK ON THE FIELD OF EDUCATION AND ON SOCIETY AS A WHOLE. IN REMEMBERING HER COMMITMENT TO BUILDING A MORE FRATERNAL AND PEACEFUL WORLD, HIS HOLINESS HOPES THAT THIS SIGNIFICANT OCCASION MAY PROMOTE GENEROUS DEDICATION TO THE NEW GENERATIONS, TO FORM PEOPLE IN SOLIDARITY, CITIZENS OF THE WORLD OPEN TO DIALOGUE AND TO ACCEPTANCE. THE SUPREME PONTIFF ASSURES YOU OF REMEMBRANCE IN HIS PRAYERS AND GLADLY INVOKES THE LORD’S BLESSING ON THE ORGANISERS, THE SPEAKERS AND ON THOSE PARTICIPATING IN THE COMMEMORATIVE EVENT.

CARDINAL PIETRO PAROLIN
SECRETARY OF STATE OF HIS HOLINESS