April 21st marks the first anniversary of Pope Francis’s passing. To commemorate the Argentine pontiff, the international organization Scholas Occurrentes, founded at the instigation of Bergoglio to promote the “culture of encounter,” has organized a day-long event in Rome with several events. The goal is to preserve and revive his cultural, spiritual, and educational legacy.

The day will begin at 11:00 a.m. in the Casina Pio IV with the seminar “The Living Legacy of Pope Francis,” focusing on educational aspects. Some of the main projects Scholas is developing in the fields of art (with particular emphasis on cinema), sports, and education will be presented.

The seminar will include testimonials from young project leaders, along with presentations by representatives and institutional figures, including the Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Policies, the Hon. Maria Teresa Bellucci; the Secretary of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, Emilce Cuda; the Secretary of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family, and Life, Gleison de Paula Souza; the founders of Scholas Occurrentes, José María del Corral and Enrique Palmeyro; historian Alberto Melloni; artist Mauro Pallotta, aka Maupal; and actress Happy Salma.

The heart of the day will likely be in the afternoon. At 4:00 pm, the Vatican Film Library will screen the unreleased documentary “Aldeas: The Final Dream of Pope Francis,” a project deeply desired by Pope Francis and personally entrusted to director Martin Scorsese. The film tells the story of Aldeas, a community cinema project created to preserve and promote cultural diversity, giving voice to communities from different parts of the world. But according to rumors, the main news lies in the words spoken in the film by Bergoglio himself, who felt the end of his earthly adventure was very close: a sort of premonition of his imminent death that would constitute a particularly moving testimony.

Finally, starting at 8:00 pm, the Auditorium della Conciliazione will host the tribute event “Tribute to Pope Francis,” a concert featuring a selection of videos dedicated to Bergoglio’s pontificate. Hosted by Francesca Ceci, the concert will feature Arisa, the Jakarta Concert Orchestra, the Batavia Madrigal Singers, and a testimony from Happy Salma. A painting and design exhibition will also be held, featuring international artists and a participatory artistic intervention led by young people from Scholas.