Impressions of a congress

Today, I write from an international congress in Rome: Springtime in the Church and the action of the Spirit, The Mission of ecclesial movements and new communities in formation and spreading the faith. Location: Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum.

If this were Twitter, I’d already be well beyond my character limit. In Rome, there is a certain elegance to the naming of people, places, buildings and events. You won’t attend an event here called: Meeting about sharing faith.

This congress has a beautiful, albeit complicated, “logo” that appears on all the materials. Included in the image are blended pictures of St Peter’s, a statue of Peter, a crowd of the faithful, a flying dove and a skyline comprising iconic buildings from around the world. In Rome, you couldn’t have a logo that is a simple cross with a couple simple words. This isn’t Chicago, Detroit or Kansas City.

The crowd also is complicated. A small army of men in black (aka priests) occupies many of the seats. But there are lay people from many countries, shapes, sizes, styles, ages, both men and women. Some are old hands at attending such global events. Others are still in the wide-eyed combination of jet lag and the realization that they really are in Rome, the eternal city, pizza, gelato, cappuccino and Pope.

The presentations are brilliant and serious. This is an academic affair, so you can’t expect to see clever PowerPoint graphics or video clips. The speakers don’t start with a story about a guy walking into a bar. Still, there is a comfortable warmth to the proceedings. It may be serious, but giving a boring talk might be a venial sin.

As an American who lives in a culture bombarded by sound bites, 30-second commercials and video billboards, it took me a few minutes to adjust to the pace of the presentations and the realization that the only is brilliant human being expressing his views by reading from a carefully prepared script. These guys aren’t winging it. There is meat on the bones – and passion delivered with intellectual maturity.

Many Americans these days look to Facebook as their major source of mental stimulus, and you can keep a handle on friends, family and popular culture via the social media. But sitting in an auditorium in Rome, I’m reminded that there is much to be said for substance.