"We are a huge family in which all those welcomed in and loved feel active members, in our family homes all over the world, in our therapeutic communities,
in our cooperatives, in our reception centres for the homeless, in our prayer and fraternity homes.
Here young people, men and women, married couples, consecrated lay people and priests
have chosen to share their life with the poorest.
To leave no one suffering alone and to feel the Lord calling us all to follow the same path of justice and sanctification, to shoulder the cross of our brothers and sisters carrying it together to remove the causes of injustice." Giovanni Ramonda
The Pope John XXIII Community Association is an international association of the faithful of pontifical right.
Ever since its foundation in 1968 by Father Oreste Benzi, it has embraced a practical and constant commitment to combatting marginalisation and poverty. We in the Community bond our own life with that of the poor and the oppressed, living with them 24 hours a day, helping our relationship with Christ to grow because only by being on our knees can we stand alongside the poor.
Direct sharing with the marginalised, the despised and the rejected is not a comfortable route to travel, it forbids us from closing our eyes to injustice. Once embarked on however, it is a path that captures and entrances us, leading to the abandonment of all those false myths the only too often bring unhappiness.
Today over 41,00 people, the world over, sit at the Community’s table, thanks to over 500 places of sharing provided by family homes, canteens for the poor, reception centres, therapeutic communities, Bethlehem Huts for the homeless, open families and prayer homes. The Community is also active with projects for emergency humanitarian relief and development partnerships and we are present in conflict zones in the form of our non-violent peace corps "Operation Dove".
APG23 has had a seat at the United Nations since 2006 with special consultative status at ECOSOC (the United Nations Economic and Social Committee), acting as a mouthpiece for the world’s most disadvantaged where international leaders make decisions about the fate of humanity.
Backed by the efforts of all our members, volunteers and supporters, the Pope John XXIII Community is able to forge ahead with Father Benzi’s grand plan for solidarity - being the family for those without one.