The Community

History, activities, specific vocation, people and path of the community founded by Father Oreste Benzi

The activities of the ‘Community of Pope John XXIII’ Association in the world of poverty and marginalisation started in 1973, when the first family-home was opened. The Community is now present in 25 countries of the five continents: Albania, Australia, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, China, Croatia, Georgia, Kenya, Kosovo, India, Israel/Palestine, Italy, Moldova, Holland, Republic of San Marino, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, North Uganda, Venezuela, Zambia.

There are about 1,850 members of the Community and every day over 38,000 people sit at the Community’s table, while. In order to carry out this commitment, 26 juridical bodies have been created and promoted worldwide.

What we do and why

The origin of the Community of Pope John XXIII and its path through the most meaningful events of the last 30 years.

Spirituality and Vocation

The Association is a single spiritual family, composed of people of different ages and states of life. The vocation of the Community consists in conforming one’s life to Jesus, poor, servant and suffering and in sharing directly the life of the least.

Sharing our lives directly with the poor and the least

The members of the Community of Pope John XXIII want to follow the poor, servant and suffering Jesus. This moves them to try and find always-new ways to share their lives directly with the least.

Pontifical recognition

Intuitions and paths that led the Community of Pope John XXIII to be officially recognised by the Church on 25 March 2004.

Our Community at United Nations

In 2006 the Association "Comunità Papa Giovanni XXIII" obtained the Status Consultative Special in Ecosoc. The commitment that Comunità Papa Giovanni XXIII promotes at the United Nations is the result of sharing the life with the poor and is the fruit of the international elaboration and synthesis of the action of removal of the causes which create injustice.

Father Oreste Benzi

The founder of the Community of Pope John XXIII and its President until 2 November 2007, the day in which he went back to the Father.

Sandra Sabattini, servant of God

Sandra Sabattini, a member of the Community of Pope John XXIII, died in a road accident on 2 May 1984, at the age of 23. On 6 December 2008 the diocesan enquiry into her heroic virtues was closed in the diocese of Rimini, Italy.

Giovanni Paolo Ramonda

The current president of the Community of Pope John XXII, and first successor of Father Oreste Benzi, elected on 13 January 2008.