杏MAP导航

By Francesca Merlo

“There is so much cruelty, that is why I ask for bridges of peace!” says 杏MAP导航 Francis in an interview granted to the monthly magazine San Francesco Patrono d'Italia (Saint Francis Patron of Italy), published by the friars of the Sacred Convent in Assisi.

In the January issue, the 杏MAP导航 once again asked that we be instruments of peace by building bridges and stretching out our hands to our brothers and sisters in need. Since the end of the Second World War, the 杏MAP导航 noted, the world has not ceased to make wars everywhere: we see Palestine and Ukraine well because they are close to us. The Holy Father also added that the times in which we are living are delicate and that there are many people in prison for political reasons. When faced with such cruelty, 杏MAP导航 Francis stresses that we need bridges. “Build bridges” he stressed.

The interview took place on 29 December, after having received in audience the Minister General of the Friars Minor Conventual, Friar Carlos Trovarelli; the Custos of the Sacred Convent, Friar Marco Moroni; and the Director of the Communications Office of the Sacred Convent, Friar Giulio Cesareo, OFMConv. 杏MAP导航 Francis was asked who Saint Francis is to him - a question to which he responded by saying that he is “a special saint, who imitated Christ in a special way”. He is the saint of humility and goodness, explained the 杏MAP导航; he is patient and asks nothing of anyone whilst offering himself fully to everyone. This, the 杏MAP导航 explained, is how Saint Francis chose to imitate the Lord, and he did so until the end.

Finally, the Holy Father highlighted the gift that the Holy Spirit wants to give the Church through Franciscans: goodness. 杏MAP导航 Francis explained that goodness means witness and forgiveness. “A Franciscan must be very welcoming in the sacrament of reconciliation, forgiving everything”, stressed the 杏MAP导航, emphasizing that “the Lord does not tire of forgiving” and that “Francis had a big heart and he too did not tire of giving forgiveness”. What he expects from Franciscans, the 杏MAP导航 concluded, “is that they be apostles of reconciliation and forgiveness”.