Tuesday 9 June at 20.35, from the square of the upper Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi, Rai Radio1 will broadcast together with Rai1 the concert "With the Heart, in the name of Francesco" which for 18 years has been helping and supporting those who suffer and those in difficulty. Marcella Sullo and Gianmaurizio Foderaro will tell the listeners of the radio channel about the emotions, the music, the curiosities of the backstage and the interviews with the artists who have just performed on stage. Franciscan canteens in Italy will be helped this year (the Franciscan Antoniano canteen in Bologna and Opera San Francesco in Milan), and families affected economically by the coronavirus. The evening will be dedicated to Italians in difficulty, especially following the pandemic emergency that made the poor poorer, taking away hope from those who already had nothing or almost nothing: families with small children, the elderly and lonely or sick people are those who they are paying the highest price.
It will be possible to support the solidarity campaign of the friars "With the Heart, in the name of Francis" with sms and calls from the landline at 45515 until 15 July . The value of the donation will be 2 euros for each SMS sent by Wind Tre, TIM, Vodafone, Iliad, PosteMobile, CoopVoce, Tiscali; it will be 5 euros at 45515 for each call from the TWT landline, Convergenze, PosteMobile; and 5/10 euros from the fixed network TIM, Vodafone, Wind Tre, Fastweb, Tiscali. It will also be possible to call the toll-free number 800.386.386 where you can receive the picture with the simple prayer of Saint Francis.
The meeting was attended by, among others: the Director of Rai1, Stefano Coletta , the conductor of the program, Carlo Conti, Gianni Morandi, and the Custos of the Sacred Convent of Assisi, Father Mauro Gambetti . The meeting, moderated by the director of the Press Room, Father Enzo Fortunato , was opened by the greeting of the Deputy Director of Rai 1, Maria Teresa Fiore , and the General Director of the Institute for Sports Credit, Paolo D'Alessio .
Father Mauro Gambetti, Custos Sacred Convent of Assisi: «There really is a need to fully experience the reconciliation with ourselves and with those around us. We thought of this evening of solidarity in the sign of peace, to also express the closeness and closeness of us Franciscans to the people. We friars in this time of pandemic have asked ourselves many times what we could do. The thought went to those who suffered the most, in body and soul. "With the Heart, in the name of Francis" this year in particular, fills us with joy: it can be the most widespread way for us to respond to this desire and need to be close and welcome those who are in need and in difficulty ».
Carlo Conti: «18th edition of Con il cuore. It is now an inevitable evening, it fills the heart. It is important to do it, even more this year. Very special edition, a more collected evening, more Franciscan, to make an important fundraiser. For the many people who are knocking on the canteens and Franciscan convents. We will try to find funds to give this concrete, material help. Gianni Morandi gave us an extraordinary gift in saying yes to this evening, without an audience, with his great music and energy. An evening of lightness, joy, the hope of starting again after this stop. The audience will be there, from home, with participation, with testimonials that will tell what they are doing. We will connect with Bologna where Antoniano's canteen is located, with Milan and with testimonies of tales of how these particular months have been lived. But above all it will be joy, joy, happiness, hope. Of a restart of our country and the hope of helping many families ».
Gianni Morandi: «The rain is falling is the song that we have prepared a little to exorcise. We have installed a cover, so the show will be done anyway, but we hope that San Francesco will give us a gift. I have come many times to visit Him, the Basilica and then many times even just as a tourist. We will be without live audience, we have to do it this way right now, with our songs, we have to give a message of hope and restart. And anyway we hope that the public is from home. We are happy to be here and contribute to this fundraiser, we know that the Franciscan friars help people who are truly in difficulty. Then, the show continues, let's go ahead and do everything we can. I also enjoy it, but I will work hard ».
Stefano Coletta, Rai1 Director: «Covid made us look at the world in a different way. With Il Cuore it is the renewal of a concept: in the face of such serious wounds, spirituality is needed. It is symbolic to reopen Rai1 season with two people who still have their own spirituality: Carlo Conti and Gianni Morandi, two human beings who have a grace that is part of who has a soul. After this page, bad and futile television in my opinion will have a less happy fate. People took stock of their existence. The beautiful scenery of the Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi, where we will air, will be the delivery in words and music of an evening, however meditative and elegant ».