Br MATTEO BRENA, ofm Commissioner of the Holy Land - Tuscany (Italy) Visiting Syria was a very important opportunity not only to pay a fraternal visit to our friars in Damascus, Aleppo, Latakia but also to view and understand what are the conditions of the people, of the Christians. It was a powerful experience for Br. Matteo Brena, who returned from a trip to Syria, made on behalf of all the Italian-speaking commissioners. Visiting is a time of grace, but it is also a time of listening: to the life of the Franciscans, to the people, to their hopes and difficulties. Br MATTEO BRENA, ofm Commissioner of the Holy Land - Tuscany (Italy) Listening to the reality, to people's testimonies made me realize how rich our community is, though scarred, and though tempted to no longer have hope. Our communities have a look of faith, a horizon, and for them the parishes, the convents feel like home, as places where many activities are carried out. Not only activities of pastoral care, but also of charity, to overcome the traumas of war and the uncertainty of the future. A journey that carries great responsibility. Br MATTEO BRENA, ofm Commissioner of the Holy Land - Tuscany (Italy) That of reporting, telling communities, institutions what one has seen, what one has been able to hear, in some way provide for the needs of the land of Syria, of the Syrian community, not only through fundraising, but also through remembrance, prayer and information. Br MATTEO BRENA, ofm Commissioner of the Holy Land - Tuscany (Italy) What impressed me most was the welcome. The ability to welcome of the friars, of the communities, in spite of everyone, in spite of the lack of water, gasoline, electricity for most of the day. But hearts are open. Making space, feeling welcomed, introduced inside a life that, despite everything, continues. It is a beating heart, strong, this deeply marks the spirit of every man who thinks he has arrived to help and instead is helped by a reality that is in need. This is the Gospel: where the poorest, suffering ones are those most able to recognize Jesus who comes to visit them, in the stranger who happens to be there.