The year 2020 marked an indelible chapter in recent history, a time of uncertainty, loneliness, and pain that tested humanity's resilience. However, as we move forward and the memory fades into our daily routine, we risk forgetting the profound lessons that year taught us. The pandemic not only brought irreparable losses and abrupt changes in our way of life, but also highlighted the fragility of existence and the urgent need to care for one another.

It was a year in which physical distance became a bridge to rediscover empathy and solidarity. The lack of in-person gatherings fostered new ways of connecting: messages, video calls, and small gestures of support became the foundation of relationships that, despite adversity, proved their worth. We learned to value every moment, to listen with our hearts, and to understand that health, compassion, and unity are irreplaceable pillars for building a more humane future.

Today, amidst the rush to return to normalcy, it is crucial to pause and reflect. We cannot allow oblivion to erase the lessons of a time that, though bleak, revealed our inner strength and our capacity to reinvent ourselves in the midst of chaos. It is a call to remember that, in every farewell and every silence, lies the opportunity to be better, to lend a hand to those in need, and to build more compassionate communities.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.” (John 14:1)