"Stop and walk" is the invitation and the name of the pilgrimage, in the land of St. Francis, that from 25 to 28 April involved 65 young people, coming from Chieri and Turin.

During four days they walked through the poppies fields and hills covered of olive trees, from Spoleto to Assisi enjoying and rediscovering the simplicity of silence, of listening to the Word of God and of walking together. They were able to share their desires, their questions and their search for God with the help of short passages from the life of St. Francis, of his conversion, from failure to being able to see authentically.

"Pain broke through where a bad education based on permissiveness and weakness had only hardened the heart. I understood that the long lasting illness had basically been a grace. It had been as a plough overturning soil, breaking it and making it possible for spring to break out. Above all, it had rendered two services to me: it had taken away securities that were many in me and it had given me “new eyes”.

Everything seemed new to me, ever more new, and the light that entered my eyes was transformed inside my heart into joy. I think that my first real prayers were those of that time, even though many times before I had prayed with my mother. In any case, my need to thank dates back to that time". (“I, Francis” by Carlo Carretto)

Very precious were fr Gianfranco Laiolo (a Salesian priest working in shelters and rehabilitation communities for young drug addicts) with the narrative of his conversion, and Sister Rosaria (an Alcantarine Franciscan) with the story of her friendship with the blind Bartimaeus.

Among the organizers and participants were young people belonging to the groups of San Carlo Center in Chieri and to the EYM-Missionary Laegue group from the Sociale Institute in Turin, with the generous help of some members of CLC.

A sign of hope and vitality in the ecclesial reality and in the apostolic collaboration between Jesuits and laity in Turin.