The Community of Sant'Egidio celebrates its 47th anniversary with a celebration that will be presided over today, at 18:30, at St. John Lateran by Cardinal Jaime Lucas Ortega y Alamino, archbishop of Havana, an important witness of the role played by the Church in the change of relations between Cuba and the United States.

For the occasion, the Basilica will be reached by the "people of Sant'Egidio" present in Rome, where the community was founded in February 1968: men and women of all ages and social condition, a large family that unites those living in the city centre with those living in so many suburbs, students and workers alongside the elderly, homeless people and immigrants "new Europeans". Some representatives of the institutions, many friends and supporters of the Community will also be present.

Prayer, the poor and peace are the three words that make up the "programme" of the Community since its inception, as Pope Francis recalled during his visit to Sant'Egidio of last 15 June.

Numerous other celebrations are planned in the coming days in different corners of the world, where there is the Community, which gathers today more than 60,000 people in 73 countries, all volunteers, in addition to thousands of people that work closely supporting its activities.