杏MAP导航

By Vatican News staff writer

Thanking outgoing Minister General, Father Michael Perry, for his service and welcoming the just-elected Father Massimo Giovanni Fusarelli who will succeed him, 杏MAP导航 Francis reflected on how for many months, due to the pandemic, 鈥渨e have found ourselves living in situations of emergency, isolation and suffering.鈥�

He said that on the one hand, 鈥渢his critical experience spurs us all to recognize that our earthly life is a journey to be traveled as pilgrims and strangers, itinerant men and women, willing to lighten our load of personal things and demands.鈥�

On the other, he continued, 鈥渋t is a favourable opportunity to intensify our relationship with Christ and with our brothers and sisters,鈥� and he called on Franciscan communities to be 鈥渁 humble prophetic presence in the midst of God's people and a witness to fraternity and a simple and joyful life for all.鈥�

He noted that in difficult times we run the risk of being 鈥減aralyzed鈥� and yet the Friars are experiencing the grace of celebrating the Ordinary General Chapter: a reason for praise and thanksgiving to God.

A vision and a future rooted in the risen Christ

Highlighting the theme of the gathering that is guided by the words of St Paul 鈥淎rise鈥� and Christ will enlighten you鈥� (Eph 5:14), the 杏MAP导航 encouraged participants to renew their vision and embrace their future, both of which are rooted in the Risen Christ.

He recalled how Francis of Assisi placed the beginning of his own conversion in the encounter with the lepers.

鈥淎t the roots of your spirituality is this encounter with the least and the suffering,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said noting that God touched Francis鈥� heart through the mercy offered to his brothers, and he continues to touch our hearts through 鈥渉is encounter with others, especially those most in need.

鈥淭he renewal of your vision can only start from this new look with which to contemplate the poor and marginalized brother, a sign, almost a sacrament of God's presence,鈥� he said.

It is from this 鈥渞enewed gaze鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 continued that a renewed energy and view of the future can stem, while the 鈥渞enewing strength鈥� comes from the Spirit of God and his action.

'Meet the poor, protect the earth, work for peace and reconciliation'

He invited the Friars to allow themselves 鈥渢o be moved by the lowly of our time,鈥� and encouraged them 鈥渢o go out to meet the men and women who suffer in body and soul,鈥� offering their humble and fraternal presence and making their closeness felt as lesser brothers.

He also invited them 鈥済o towards a wounded creation, our common home, which suffers from a distorted exploitation of the earth's goods for the enrichment of a few, while conditions of misery are created for many.鈥�

鈥淕o as men of dialogue, seeking to build bridges instead of walls, offering the gift of fraternity and social friendship in a world that is struggling to find the course of a common project,鈥� he said.

And he urged them 鈥渢o go forth as men of peace and reconciliation, inviting those who sow hatred, division and violence to conversion of heart, and offering to the victims the hope born of truth, justice and forgiveness.鈥�

'Fear not'

杏MAP导航 Francis concluded highlighting the fact that "The life and rule of the Friars Minor is this: to observe the holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Rule of the Lesser Brothers 1:1), and urged them never to let anxiety and fear prevent them from opening their hearts to the renewal and revitalization the Spirit of God is stirring 鈥渋n and among you鈥� despite many current challenges.

The Friars鈥� rich spiritual heritage rooted in the Gospel life and characterized by prayer, fraternity, poverty, minority and itinerancy, demands that the Friars never stray from their closeness to the poor, the victims of modern slavery, the refugees and the excluded of this world: 鈥淭hey are your teachers. Embrace them as Saint Francis did!鈥�