A SMILE FOR FRANCISCO (English)

 

In April 2022, on the occasion of his audience with Pope Francis, where he would be presenting the state of the works in Mozambique, Fray Jorge Bender asked his great benefactor, Alejandro Roemmers, to accompany him, although the then Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio and the poet had been maintaining a long epistolary friendship in Argentina, exchanging concepts on literary topics, including previews of his new poems that Alejandro sent him, there have already been several opportunities in which they have met in the Vatican, although never after This last stage, so complicated for humanity, with a pandemic and war included, is why it is worth highlighting the spontaneous joy with which the Holy Father received his old friend, visibly moved and interested in his parents, in his entire family and in him personally. .

It was a very affable, entertaining talk, where in addition to Bender’s detailed report, there was no lack of details of all the solidarity and cultural projects that Alejandro is carrying out, including some that are about to come to light, and Francisco, in a clear sign of approval, encouraged him to keep going without pause.
The frank joy of the Pope with this meeting is rooted in the profound knowledge of the personality of his visit, who, far from speculating on the impact of a photograph with the Supreme Pontiff, humbly seeks the wise advice and blessing to continue in his task constant to positively impact the world, sharing in a transparent and consistent way, the implementation of his theory of «multiplication of abundance» with those who need it most.
With his extraordinary ability to understand others, the meeting was very welcome, it was, as on other occasions, an affectionate visit from a friend, a cordial meeting with someone who lives helping those who, due to various circumstances of fate, have been shattered his dreams, through the word made poetry and constant solidarity actions, from his characteristic reserved style, without any shrillness.
There are many points of contact between Bergoglio and Roemmers, which ratify the causality hypothesis, for example, their mutual admiration for Jorge Luis Borges and his work, and even more so their devotion to Saint Francis of Assisi. Bergoglio is the first successor of Peter to take the name of the Saint, and long before Roemmers was investigating and carrying out countless actions with the aim of spreading the wonderful life and message of Saint Francis among the new generations. Proof of this is the creation of the musical «Franciscus» that exalts the avant-garde profile of an exceptional character from eight hundred years ago. When it comes to shedding light on the world, through the greatness of fraternal love, Alejandro spares no effort, nor does the Holy Father.
Alejandro, «The Poet of Love», as he is identified, among his prolific literary work he wrote a book in just nine consecutive days (The Return of the Young Prince), today translated into more than thirty languages, a sales record in many countries on the planet. This work collaborates from the world of art as much as the encyclicals of Francisco, Laudato Si and Fratelli Tutti do from the Christian faith, with the intention of improving the human being.

Going to more parallels and similarities between the attitude and life goals of both, saving the obvious circumstances, the work of Francis’ papacy is inevitably public knowledge due to his investiture, but in the case of Alexander, not too many people know about it. the magnitude of his philanthropic work in critical areas of great need, such is the case that we mentioned, in a certain way, reason for the meeting, on the African continent, where he unconditionally supports Fray Jorge Bender, the Argentine Franciscan priest who missions in Jécua, town in the deep interior of Mozambique, creating two years ago, the «San Francisco Agricultural Project». There, Alejandro collaborates with large-scale tools and machinery for the treatment and transfer of land, improvement of production, financing the sending of consulting engineers for the fruitful optimization of the land, modernization of soil fertilization and different state-of-the-art techniques for agricultural and livestock production. He also provided the sprinkler pump and water extraction systems (Water for All Project).
As he is convinced that education is the way forward, he has awarded study scholarships for more than 100 native adolescents and a bibliography of his authorship with values ​​content translated into Portuguese, with the goal of spiritually strengthening local youth.
Another of the pillars that brings Alejandro closer to Francisco is his devotion to Mary. In Argentina, the businessman and poet has collaborated with the renovation and enhancement of the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Lourdes de Santos Lugares, a restoration work, in the words of Father Mayor Benoit Griere, «monumental, unprecedented in the charitable contributions received in the history of the Order of the Augustinians of the Resurrection (guardians of the sanctuaries of the Virgin in the world), in addition to new repairs, replacement of materials, the automation of the bell tower, improvements in the infrastructure of the grotto, the ramps and esplanades, the facilities and comforts for the religious were also renewed. everything has been recently reopened.
Just as Pope Francis tries to guide the leaders of the world towards doing good, Alejandro, from his low profile, silently carries out tasks that the ruling class does not assume, as is the case of Jujuy, in which he supports a self-sustaining reconversion project of the small town of San Francisco, with the implementation of an empowering economy system, a successful model for inclusion in neglected peripheries, from a responsible vision with environmental standards and protocols. At this point, caring for the planet is another concern they share.
And there are so many good initiatives of Francis’s friend, that there is no doubt that he finds in him an ally of the love of Christ among men:

Jujuy – Monterrico / Ruru, Seeds of Dawn, sponsorship and financing of the formation of a Children and Youth Orchestra.
Music Foundation to save lives. Association of Ugandan Children and Youth to get ahead through music.
Home of Nazareth in the Peruvian Amazon, creation and maintenance of a home for street children and extreme poverty.
Saún – I support people who help people. Honorary member of the solidary social space.
Liceo Francisco, in Paysandú, Eastern Republic of Uruguay. School of Education of excellence for children without resources.
Doctors Without Borders, in addition to the constant financial support, donation of the total proceeds from his novel «Dying what is necessary».
Unicef, Aunar Initiative. Support for the Covid-19 prevention program for children.
Project in progress of Concerts with international figures to raise funds for refugee children from disaster areas.
In the field of Culture, in addition to winning a gold record with Sinfonía Argentina (his musical-lyrical work with Daniel Doura), he produced the cycle “Encuentro” for the work activity of musicians during the pandemic.
He supports the artistic activity of renowned musical performers, including award winners at the most renowned international festivals.
He supports the sponsorship of the writing workshops of the Sade (Argentine Society of Writers).
He finalized the creation of the Alejandro Roemmers Ibero-American Chair, in the promotion of the cultural and creative industry, at the Miguel Hernández University – Spain.
Virtual Museum of UXart. State-of-the-art Visual Content, in 360, with 3D Technology, Poetry by Miguel Hernández.

He is also the patron of the Fundación para la Poesía. Organization for the promotion and protection of letters and promotion of culture. It is federal in nature, supports and encourages writers and poets from all corners of the country, including abroad, which annually awards distinctions in large-scale events. A new film production about San Antonio de Los Cobres, and so many other good deeds that place him, without looking for it himself, at the top as a model of benefactor and philanthropist.
The incredible situations that he has experienced with the Virgin of Lourdes, messages in premonitory dreams and friends who, thanks to his struggle and protection, have had miraculous changes in their lives, will be the subject of another note, since they show that when allies intervene, love and faith, life can be a dream and vice versa.
Perhaps all this explains, in some way, the Pope’s face of joy when he finds himself in front of an ordinary man, very unusual, who identifies so much with and is inspired by the energy and traceability of Francis’ invisible arm, which reaches so much everywhere. , oriented towards the same objectives, in a meeting that was very emotional and sensitive, where it was not out of the agenda to do something great together for some new paradigm for a more united humanity, for example, two Argentines in pursuit of reconnecting the two hemispheres of the earth (East and West), on the 500th anniversary of that first time by Ferdinand Magellan, thanks to the only natural geographical accident that existed, in the extreme south of America, precisely in Argentina.

At the end of the warm meeting, they said goodbye talking about a new possible meeting on October 10, on the occasion of the Football Match for Peace, with the participation of the top stars of the ball, some retired and many in full activity. On the occasion, a Tribute will be paid to Diego Maradona (on the 10th of 10 a tribute to 10), the event will benefit the work of Scholas Ocurrentes, a project in which Alejandro has participated since its initial stage as one of the main sponsors.

 

We share the Poem that the Author opportunely gave to the Holy Father, and inspired the title of this note:

A gift for Francis

I wanted to find a gift,

the simplest, the most humble,

who in his smallness

you could accept without being offended.

I thought I could buy it and I went to the store

but no object satisfied me.

Then I heard a holy voice that told me:

“…whoever has God lacks nothing,

God alone is sufficient.»

I thought I was a poet to offer you words:

but I found them superfluous, pompous, worn…

I fled from myself and persevering

I searched the earth

but even a seed seemed excessive

it could house a tree.

When I saw the prairie

my heart vibrated joyfully,

but I sensed at the time that you would not approve

that he subtracted a single one of his wild flowers.

I searched then in the sea

and I did not find a limit

that your name would not have reached

and in all its immensity

you only had friends.

Defiant, I dared to the abyss

and like a sky turned upside down

I found it populated with starfish.

But when I had one in my hands

I thought you couldn’t be happy

knowing that every night to the sea sky

missing that star…

I searched then in the air

respecting bees, fireflies, butterflies

and all living creatures,

because you wouldn’t want to stop their wings

or disturb your flight.

I tried to bring you the scent

calm and pure of herbs,

of the burning hearth and the jasmines…

but I couldn’t keep them.

I wanted to match the song of the lark,

the murmur of the river, the whistle of the wind

when he exhales in the deep fields…

but my voice was too clumsy.

For a long moment I managed to retain,

slipping through my fingers,

a few drops of early dew…

but fresh and transparent they returned to the air.

Then I was silent, disconsolate,

under the endless blue

that my eyes could not reflect…

Francisco, I thought, in your loving humility,

Is it that I would not find anything that could please you…?

Suddenly a tree dropped one of its leaves

which was deposited in front of me on the ground.

Then another, which came swaying in the breeze

even my hands that received it unintentionally.

Then another, another, and another,

until I felt that the tree, compassionate,

he was willing to give himself entirely

and bare its branches

in order to comfort me.

so much was his love

my tears flowed

like a redemptive and grateful spring.

The tree’s leaves

continued descending generous

in an endless blessing…

Then I could understand… and smiled.

And the fields, the birds and the streams smiled with me.

the breeze stopped

and no more leaves fell…

The gift that produced the sensitivity of that tree

is what I now want to offer you:

the love of a smile

A humble and ephemeral gift

that you can multiply and share without fear

like the loaves and the fishes,

until all united to Jesus

let us finally inhabit the Kingdom of God.

Alejandro Guillermo Roemmers

Vatican City, 09/18/13