Pope Francis will receive members of the Focolare Movement in the Paul VI Hall on Saturday after their General Assembly.
Vatican News staff reporter
In the course of their General Assembly this week, members of the Focolare Movement discussed a number of key issues and elected new leaders.
At the end of their meeting, Pope Francis on Saturday thanked the outgoing president, Maria Voce, and the newly elected president, Margaret Karram.
He also offered some reflection on the Movement to ‘encourage them on their journey’.
He divided these reflections into three points: the era after the Foundress; the importance of crises and living spirituality with coherence and realism.
Openness and dialogue
The Pope spoke about the period after the founding and noted that the movement was called twelve years after the passing of Chiara Lubich to overcome this’ natural loss and even the decline in numbers to still be a living expression of the founding charisma be. . ”
According to him, it required “a dynamic fidelity that can interpret the signs and needs of the time and respond to the new demands of mankind.” Pope Francis added that it also “remains true to the original source, strives to reconsider it and express it in dialogue with new social and cultural situations.”
This work of renewal, he said, “is all the more fruitful the more it is carried out by harmonizing creativity, wisdom, sensitivity for all, and faithfulness to the Church.”
The pope further said that “openness to others, whoever they may be, must always be cultivated: the gospel is meant for all, it is a leaven of the new mankind in every place and every time.”
Facing problems
However, the pope also had words of warning, and they advised against withdrawing him, which according to him ‘always leads to the defense of the institution to the detriment of individuals, and which may also lead to the justification or cover-up of abuse. ‘
Instead, Pope Francis continued, “it is better to be courageous and face problems with parity and truth, and always follow the indications of the church.”
A call to new maturity
Drawing on the second theme, ‘the importance of crises’, the pope pointed out that’ every crisis is an appeal to new maturity; it is a time of the Spirit that awakens the need for updating, without being discouraged by human complexity and its contradictions. ”
“It is the duty of governments at all levels to work to address community and organizational crises in the best, most constructive way,” he said.
Pope Francis paid particular attention to the spiritual crises of individuals, which involve the intimacy of the individual and the sphere of conscience, noting that they ‘must be careful with those who do not hold governmental positions at every level within the Movement. . ”
“This is a good rule of thumb that applies not only to moments of crisis in individuals, but also in general to their guidance during their spiritual journey,” the pope said.
Outside and inside
Reflecting on his third point, “live your spirituality with coherence and realism,” Pope Francis told the congregation, “the ultimate purpose of your charisma coincides with the intention Jesus presented to the Father in his last, great prayer: that ‘all may be one’, knowing full well that it is the work of grace of the One and Triune God. This intention, he explained, requires a commitment in a dual perspective: outside the movement and within it. ‘
As for the outward appearance, the pope said, “I encourage you to witness closeness with brotherly love that overcomes every barrier and reaches every human condition.”
As for the commitment within the movement, he continued: ‘I call on you to promote more and more synodality, so that all members, as depositors of the same charisma, can be co-responsible for and participate in the life of the Work or Mary and his specific goals. ”
Turn pain into hope
Finally, the pope invited those present to imitate their founder Chiara Lubich by always listening to ‘the cry of leaving Christ on the cross, which reveals the greatest measure of love’.
The grace that comes from it, he added, ‘is able to evoke in us, who are weak and sinners, generous and sometimes heroic reactions; it can transform suffering and even tragedy into a source of light and hope for mankind. In this part of death after life lies the heart of Christianity and also of your charisma. ”