The Palais des Nations in Geneva has been today the prestigious setting for the Swiss premiere screening of the movie “Cabrini”, focused on the figure of Mother Francesca Cabrini, foundress of the religious congregation “Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus”.
Mother Cabrini, advocate of assistance to Italian migrants in the United States of America between the 19th and 20th centuries, was proclaimed “Saint” by the Catholic Church in 1946 and “Patroness of Emigrants” in 1950, and still today represents a shining example of faith and modernity, inspiring in her commitment to the most vulnerable and in her feminine determination to defy prejudice and convention for the affirmation of noble ideals. No American had been sanctified before Mother Cabrini.
The event, jointly organised by the Permanent Representation of Italy in Geneva and the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See, and with the support of the United Nations Office at Geneva and the High Commissioner for Refugees, featured the leading actress, Cristiana Dell’Anna, who was awarded several prizes for her masterful portrayal of Mother Cabrini at various festivals, including the IFFA Awards 2024, the Septimius Awards in Amsterdam and the Denver Film Festival in Colorado.
In front of a large and enthusiastic audience, the screening was also preceded by a brief debate on the issues dealt with in director Alejandro Monteverde’s work. The protagonists of the discussion, together with the Italian actress, were the Director General of the UN Office in Geneva, Tatiana Valovaya, the Permanent Observer of the Holy See, Msgr. Ettore Balestrero, the Permanent Representatives of the USA, Amb. Michelle Taylor, Italy, Amb. Vincenzo Grassi, and Sister Liz Todd, of the “Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus” congregation. Participants included all major UN Organisations and Agencies, particularly the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees. The event provided the occasion for a high-level dialogue on topical issues for Geneva’s multilateralism, such as the role of women in the public sphere, assistance to the most vulnerable segments of the population (refugees, migrants and minors), and the centrality of health and education for social redemption. The UN Charter, like the Constitution of the Italian Republic, reflects the humanist vision embodied in the work of St. Francesca Cabrini. The irrepressible yearning to build “an empire of hope” calls contemporary consciences not to abandon the reasons of dialogue and justice.
See the interview by UNOG with leading actress Cristiana Dell’Anna
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