杏MAP导航

By Linda Bordoni

Awaiting 杏MAP导航 Francis in Loppiano were not only the town鈥檚 850 inhabitants, but representatives of the Focolare family from all over Italy as well as the thousands across the world who watched the event via live streaming.

The 杏MAP导航 arrived in Loppiano after a visit to Nomadelfia - also in Tuscany - where he met with the community there.

The Focolare Movement is a diverse reality that prioritizes dialogue and a lifestyle that contributes towards building unity and peace in the world. Two million people across the globe share in the Movement's life and activities; many come from Christian Churches, but there are others who profess different religious creeds. There are about 1,000 social projects in different countries of the world, and 800 businesses that base their activities on the principles of the Economy of Communion.

At Loppiano, which is described as 鈥榓 model of community life based on the principles of solidarity and fraternity鈥�, 杏MAP导航 Francis was able to field questions and interact with those present after praying at the Sanctuary dedicated to Mary, Mother of God, before a painting that symbolizes inter-religious dialogue.   

The importance of 鈥榤emory鈥�

Amongst the questions put to the 杏MAP导航 by some of the citizens of Loppiano were queries about how to adapt with the times without betraying one鈥檚 roots and one鈥檚 heritage to which Francis said 鈥渕emory鈥� is the frame of life: 鈥渏ust as the fruits of a tree are possible because the tree has roots, if you have no memory, you will be uprooted and will not be able to bear fruits鈥�.

In Loppiano there are no peripheries

Regarding the academic reality in Loppiano where schools and a university are run according to the laws of mutual love, the 杏MAP导航 praised the experience of walking 鈥� and working 鈥� together at the service of all with a view that embraces all of humanity, and said that in a place like Loppiano, an 鈥渙pen city鈥� where there are no barriers and no suburbs, those who are normally relegated to the peripheries of existence find themselves at the center of community life. 

鈥楶谤辞虫颈尘颈迟测鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis went on to elaborate on the concept of Christian closeness and proximity which, he said, is what God did when He sent us His Son.

The challenge of creative fidelity

Another question regarding the theme of 鈥渕ission鈥� in a new stage of evangelization and the need to   respond to the challenges of our time, prompted Francis to exhort those present to look to the future with 鈥渢rustful fidelity鈥� and with 鈥済enerous creativity鈥� remarking on the fact that Loppiano itself was born from 鈥渁 small seed sown in the furrows of history鈥� and that continues to 鈥渂ear substantial fruits, at the service of its mission to proclaim and live the Gospel of Jesus in the way the Church is called to live today.鈥�

鈥淭his calls for humility, openness, synergy and the capacity to take risks鈥� he said.

The challenge, 杏MAP导航 Francis explained, is to remain faithful to the original inspiration, and at the same time be open to the breath of the Holy Spirit and courageously undertake new paths that the Spirit suggests. 

Before concluding, the 杏MAP导航 invited those present to look to the Mother of God saying that the Shrine dedicated to her in Loppiano is an invitation to learn from her:

鈥淢ary takes the Word and goes forward, because she is a woman of faith, a woman of creativity, a woman of courage, of parrhesia, a woman of patience and of enduring things鈥� he said.

鈥淎lways look to her, he said, a lay person, the first disciple of Jesus, at how she behaved during all the difficult and passages of her son's life. It will help you a lot鈥�.