Pope to the Focolare: “It is God’s plan to reconcile everyone in Christ”



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“The Work of the Focolare has always cultivated, through the charism received from its founder Chiara Lubich, the service of unity in the Church among all believers and in the world. These are the words of Pope Francis when he received in audience at the Vatican the bishops who were friends of this movement, to whom he reminded that “it is the plan of God to reconcile and harmonize each one in Christ”, which does not mean not say falling into “unanimity” but “respecting the other”.

Vatican City

On Saturday September 25, Pope Francis received in audience at the Vatican the members of the Focolare Movement who are celebrating their meeting in Rome under the slogan “have the courage to be one”.

In his speech, the Holy Father greeted Cardinal Francis Xavier Kovithavanij, who was unable to attend the audience due to illness: “Pray for his speedy recovery!” declared the Pontiff, sharing with all those present a reflection on the “path of friendship” which characterizes this group and which has “a strong and solid root”.

The seed of the Focolare

“The Work of Mary, or Focolare Movement, has always cultivated, through the charism received from its founder Chiara Lubich, the meaning and service of unity: unity in the Church, unity among all believers, unity all over the world, in concentric circles “, Francis affirmed, stressing that this makes us think of the definition that the Vatican Council II gave of the Church:

“The sacrament, that is to say the sign and instrument of intimate union with God and of the unity of all mankind (Const. Lumen Gentium, 1)”

On the other hand, Francis underlined the great action of the Holy Spirit at the origin of this movement, since “in the midst of the lacerations and destruction of war, he planted in Clara’s young heart a seed of brotherhood and communion “, a seed that grew from this group of friends, in Trento, “attract men and women of all languages ​​and nations with the power of God’s love, which creates unity without canceling diversity, on the contrary, by strengthening and harmonizing it”.

God’s dream: brotherhood

Likewise, the Bishop of Rome developed what we can call “the dream of God”: “A people sent into the world to bear witness to Christ, so that He, Lumen gentium, Light of the Gentiles, attracts everyone to themselves, with the gentle and merciful force of his Paschal Mystery” because “It is his plan to reconcile and harmonize everything and everyone in Christ” (cf. Eph 1,10; Col 1,20).

“And it is also the dream of fraternity, to which I dedicated the Encyclical Fratelli tutti”, continued the Pope, explaining:

“Faced with the shadows of a closed world where so many dreams of unity are shattered where there is a lack of a project for all and globalization navigates aimlessly, where the scourge of the pandemic risks exacerbating inequalities, the Spirit calls us to have the audacity, the parrhesia, to be one as the title of your meeting says. Dare to be united. Start from the awareness that unity is a gift “

And in this context, the Pontiff underlined that the value of unity is above all witnessed by the saints:

“A few days ago, we celebrated Saint Cornelius, Pope, and Saint Cyprian, Bishop. It is to this last that we owe the marvelous definition of the Church as a people united in the unity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (De Orat. Dom. 23: PL 4, 553). But let us also think of so many witnesses of our time, pastors and lay people, who had “the audacity of unity”, paying in person a sometimes very high price. For the unity that Jesus Christ gave us and continues to give us is not unanimity, it is not to be agreed at all costs. It obeys a fundamental criterion, which is respect for the person, respect for the face of the other, especially the poor, the little ones, the excluded “

Finally, the Pope said goodbye to the Focolare, thanking the commitment with which they accomplish this path of friendship: “I recommend you to always be open, never exclusive – to grow in the service of communion. Keep smiling. I pray for you and for your communities. May the Lord bless you and Our Lady protect you. ‘don’t forget to pray for me “, concluded.

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