Pope Francis plants a virtual olive tree for peace
March 20, 2014: Pope Francis has planted a virtual olive tree for peace as part of
an initiative aimed at getting children around the world to plant their own trees,
to help foster an awareness of peace and what it means in their homes, communities,
and countries.
The Pope planted his virtual tree by tapping the touch screen
of a tablet Wednesday afternoon in the Santa Marta guesthouse in the Vatican, during
an encounter with representatives of Scholas Occurrentes "World School Network for
the Encounter," The initiative is being promoted by the Pontifical Academy of Sciences
Chancellor Argentine Bishop Marcelo Sanchez Sorondo. In addressing the group of about
40 people, Pope Francis talked about education, sports and solidarity.
It
is a global expansion of two projects supported by Pope Francis when he was archbishop
of Buenos Aires: "Escuela de Vecinos" (Neighbor Schools) and "Escuelas Hermanas" (Sister
Schools). Both focus on civic education and participation based on students in richer
and poorer neighborhoods sharing their concerns and problems and looking for solutions
together.
The Pontifical Academy of Sciences is now inviting schools to participate
in the initiative “at all levels.” Pope Francis, who Wednesday was also celebrating
the first anniversary of his installation and Father’s Day, launched a tweet for the
occasion: “I greet the World School Network for Encounter. Today we plant the first
virtual olive tree for peace. @infoscholas”
Last year in August, after meeting
Pope Francis, Gianluigi Buffon, captain of the Italian national soccer team, and Lionel
Messi, captain of Argentina's team, lent their hands -- actually just a finger --
to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. The two stars took turns Aug. 13, clicking
a mouse to launch www.scholasoccurrentes.org, the website of the academy's initiative
to bring together schools from around the world in projects to promote understanding
and solidarity.