Visit to Rome by the International President Hyung Jin Nim and Yeon Ah Nim

On August 24th and 25th the Italian members received the Unification Church World President, Hyung Jin Nim and his wife Yeon Ah Nim. Together with them was Mrs. Choi, vice-president of the WFWP, Dr. Seuk Vice President of the Unification Church, Pres. Song Yong Cheol and his wife, continental director of the European continent, Dr. Thomas Walsh and Taj Hamad of the UPF International and six other brothers, accompanying them. The whole Italian family was so greatful to welcome Hyung Jin Nim, Yeon Ah Nim and elder sister Yeon Ah Nim to Italy. Europe has been waiting for their visit for a long time. Finally the day has arrived. We really felt that True Parents’ was visiting us.

Right after their arrival, Hyung Jin Nim and Yeon Ah Nim visited and prayed at the Holy Ground at the Vatican main square which True Parents had established in August 20th, 1965. The main program was a meeting with members that was held in a Catholic Center called “Better World." Dr. Seuk opened the event with a speech to testify about Hyung Jin Nim’s Cheong Seong. After a video presentation, the continental director Rev. Yong Cheol Song introduced Hyung Jin Nim to the stage who delivered an inspiring speech to the 400 Unificationists and Ambassadors for Peace gathered in the hall filled to its capacity. The content of the speech was aimed to revive our life of faith, by testifying about our belief in a most simple and effective way and by understanding the seven deaths and resurrections of the True Parents.

If we could summarize all Divine Principle content in one sentence we could say: “Inheriting the True Love of God”. Hyung Jin Nim, Yeon Ah Nim and elder sister Yeon Ah Nim received flowers from the participants and right away offered them to True Parents. The National Leader Giuseppe Cali was deeply moved to tears by receiving from Hyung Jin Nim’s couple the necklace with the symbol of the Unification Church as a sign of appreciation for the entire Italian Unification Family. At the end of the Hyung Jin Nim’s speech, he and Yeon Ah Nim took pictures which each of the Blessed Families.

Hyung Jin Nim and Yeon Ah Nim delivered a few other speeches, especially while having meals, encouraging us to challenge the society by witnessing about True Parents directly and openly, by declaring our belonging to the Unification Church, with wisdom and pride at the same time. Other topics were about the standard of the world religions, the need to learn from them what the good points of their beliefs are and by going over that standard following True Parents. We are the ones that should bring all world religions to the common God and True Parents.

The whole party following Hyung Jin Nim’s couple visited several Catholic important places such as: St. Peter's Church and even climbing to the top of the dome, St. Paul's Church where the Christian saint is buried, St. John's Church, the former Holy Sea, passing by the Coliseum, Fori Imperiali, Circo Massimo and some of the main archeological sites of Rome.

What was particularly interesting to everybody was the incredible artistic development that in the history the Christian faith could bring to glorify God, even though many times it was found to be a little “too external” or not corresponding to real faith and true love standard, that was supposed to be lived by Jesus disciples. The most interesting and spiritual experience was in the “Holy Stairs” church. Hyung Jin Nim and Yeon Ah Nim leaded all of us, their party, plus the Italian National leaders and the few Italian brothers and sisters supporting the tour, in climbing the stair on their knees, a tradition that is meant to repent in front of God and Jesus for our sins and find forgiveness. Hyung Jin Nim's speech, right on the spot was “When we feel pain, we understand what Jesus and True Parents have gone through. So we understand that we cannot complain or stop because of this. If we don’t focus on the internal meaning, easily our body becomes the subject and we cannot continue. This a good training for mind and body unity and a test of the strength of our faith”

Finally on the last evening Hyung Jin Nim, Yeon Ah Nim and all the party visited a blessed family's home, the Natale family, and they were able to spend a very meaningful and joyful time together. Hyung Jin Nim wrote a calligraphy for them.

Visiting Religious Sites

We, Italian members feel very privileged to have received our International President and all the world level leaders. For a couple of days we experienced to be the center of the world, having True Parents inheritor and most of the main world leaders with us. They left us with lot of inspiration and providential determination and we are very grateful to God, True Parents and to of all them for the care we received through them from Heaven.