From 24 to 27 September, the Congress ‘The Word and the Places’ took place at St Saviour's Convent in Jerusalem. Organised by the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum, the event marks the closing of the centenary since the founding of the SBF. It also marks the beginning of a new year and new projects aimed at deepening the Revelation, in the places where it was realised. Br, ROSARIO PIERRI, ofm Dean Studium Biblicum Franciscanum ‘The word and places’ because it synthesises the tradition of the Franciscan Bible Study. That is, the biblical text linked to place, archaeology and place-related history. Former students of the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum who are now professors at universities, faculties and seminaries took part. We therefore want to bring these forces together and make our contribution as a school in a more evident way, no doubt, to biblical research. At a time when university studies are too often influenced by dominant ideologies, the Franciscan School maintains a non-ideological and free approach to sacred texts and the study of holy places. Fr. MICHELANGELO PRIOTTO SBF Visiting Professor I am quite convinced that a non-biased reading of Scripture, of the Torah, hence neither political nor nationalistic, leads us to this positive vision. So the gift of Torah is the gift that allows you to have life, as a testimony to a vision of life and a proposal that comes from faith. A vision of life, the biblical one, that also becomes a style and a choice of life when we allow ourselves to be challenged by the Word of God, and, for some, also by the places where this Word has become flesh. ANTONELLA RIZZUTO Student SBF When one then enters into the logic of wanting to dedicate one's passion and time to deepening one's knowledge of the Scriptures and gets to know Jerusalem, comes into contact with pilgrimages and other things. With this reality, one feels that there is an enormous difference and therefore, if one can - and it is not easy to afford it - one makes the leap. And one makes the choice to come and stay here, because studying it is completely different from studying it in Italy. ANTONELLA RIZZUTO Student SBF Not because the scripture is different, but because we study scripture in its context. We are deeply convinced that text and context are connected. We study writing in the original languages, in the place where it originated. So for us it is very important. There is an abysmal difference, it is not an addition. So the choice to do it, which entails so many sacrifices, so many difficulties - which you face alone, on your own, because there is no help - is a different way of life.