François-Xavier Nguyên Van Thuân was born in Huê (Vietnam) on 17th April 1928 into a deeply Catholic family. Ordained a priest in 1953, he zealously dedicated himself to the formation of seminarians, distinguishing himself as a professor, rector and spiritual guide. Appointed Bishop of Nha Trang in 1967, he promoted a missionary ministry, close to the poor and attentive to the apostolate of the laity.
In 1975 Saint Paul VI chose him as Coadjutor Archbishop of Saigon, but only a few months later he was arrested by the communist regime. He spent thirteen years in prison, nine of them in solitary confinement. During that trial he knew how to unite himself intimately to the crucified Christ, transforming suffering into an offering and solitude into communion with the Church. During those years his “Thoughts of Hope” were born, which became a real spiritual testament, capable of illuminating the faith of millions of people around the world.
A decisive moment in his life was, towards the mid-1970s, when he met Chiara Lubich and the spirituality of the Focolare Movement, whose charism of unity and focus on Jesus Forsaken – Jesus who experienced the abandonment of the Father on the cross, the maximum expression of love – became a source of strength for him, even in the darkest moments.
Liberato nel 1988 ed esiliato, si stabilì a Roma, dove san Giovanni Paolo II lo chiamò a servire la Chiesa universale come Vicepresidente (1994) e poi Presidente (1998) del Pontificio Consiglio della Giustizia e della Pace. In questo ruolo annunciò instancabilmente il Vangelo della pace e della giustizia, viaggiando in tutto il mondo.
In 2000 he was invited by St. John Paul II to preach the spiritual exercises for the Roman Curia. Created Cardinal in 2001, he lived his final period marked by illness, with serenity and total abandonment to God. He died in Rome on 16th September 2002, leaving behind a spiritual legacy of unshakable faith, luminous hope and merciful love.
Today his figure continues to speak to the Church and the world: his life, shaped by the cross and hope, testifies that the love of Christ can transform every night into dawn.
Hope Thoughts of François-Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan written during the first months of imprisonment (*)
979. You want to bring about a revolution: to renew the world. You will be able to carry out this precious mission that God has entrusted to you, only with “the power of the Holy Spirit”. Every day, wherever you live, prepare a new Pentecost. 980. Commit to a campaign that aims to make everyone happy. Sacrifice yourself continually, with Jesus, to bring peace to souls, development and prosperity to peoples. 981. Remain faithful to the apostle’s ideal: “to lay down one’s life for one’s brothers”. Indeed, “no one has a greater love than this” (Jn 15:13). 982. Proclaim only one slogan: “All one”, that is: unity among Catholics, unity among Christians and unity among nations. “As the Father and the Son are one” (cf. Jn 17:22 -23). 985. Stick firmly to a single guiding principle: prayer. No one is stronger than the person who prays. 986. Follow one rule: the Gospel … It is not as difficult, coFmplicated or legalistic as others: on the contrary, it is dynamic, gentle and inspiring. 994. For your apostolate use the only effective method: personal contact. With it you enter into the lives of others, understand them and love them. Personal relationships are more effective than sermons and books.
(*) From: The Road of Hope. Witnessing the joy of belonging to Christ, Città Nuova, 6th ed., Rome 2004.
Just a few words. Nothing more. But it’s enough to guide the whole day. They are published at midnight and by dawn they arrive via WhatsApp or email and “light up” the whole day. They express a thought from the Gospel or a universal value and motivate people to act, to engage, to look beyond their own occupations or worries.
A brilliant idea, simple and easy to share, conceived by Chiara Lubich in December 2001 to help those working with her at the Focolare International Centre to live the present moment. But as often happens, seeing how positive the idea and its effects were, it spread like ripples on water when a stone is thrown in, crossing borders, languages, cultures and languages.
In the years that followed, the founder of the Focolare often referred to this “password” and to the experiences it sparked in those who put it into practice. She would sometimes encourage people to keep going or offer a deeper meaning, like when she suggested silently adding to the daily thought the intention of living it “especially in contact with the brothers”. This marked a profound shift, not only in striving for personal perfection, but in constantly relating to those next to us, entering into their needs and making them recipients of our concrete love.
Gradually it grew and developed. Currently, the “password” recalls some aspect of the monthly Word of life or refers to the readings of the liturgy. It is translated into 23 languages. Some, when they forward it or publish it on social networks, add a personal reflection a suggestion for putting it into practice. Others illustrate it with an image or create a short video for YouTube. And there are even those who compose a short song every day. All means of communication and all social networks are useful for sharing it with friends and acquaintances, always gently asking first if they are interested in receiving it.
These are not empty words. On the contrary, they stimulate and motivate us to action, especially in our relationships with the environment and with the people we meet every day, as Marisa from Brazil said: “Today I was going to lecture at the university, even though at this time I don’t really feel like continuing that job. I am old enough to retire, but I missed out on some promotions and for the moment I have to work because my daughters still need my financial help. So I renew my ‘For You, Jesus’ every time I go to the university. Today’s thought is precisely: ‘fulfil our duties’”.
From Senegal, Don Christian wrote: “Thank you for the password. It helps me to nourish my spiritual life and to enlighten my relationship with God and with my brothers and sisters every day.” For Maria Teresa, from Argentina, receiving it every day is a response from God: “I work in the pastoral care of migrants and yesterday I accompanied one of them to the presentation of a book he wrote on “neuroconduction”. I felt it was important to be with him in these moments when he could share and help him develop his talents. It was a new and beautiful experience of unity with him and with the people who came and welcomed his lecture as a gift he had to offer. ”
These are just a few glimpses of the life that is generated in hundreds of people, or maybe even more, who, with or without a religious belief, wake up every morning with the commitment to live the few words of the “password”.
In my younger years, in disagreement with my parish priest whom I considered too authoritarian and rigid, I gradually drifted away from religious practice. Then the witness of a group of Christians who were living out Jesus’ new commandment (Jn. 13:34 -35) made me rethink things and the change of lifestyle that followed led me first of all to seek reconciliation with those I had judged. I apologized to the priest and we cleared things up. Behind certain discouraging attitudes, I discovered a heart capable of understanding. A few years later, having made a radical choice of God, I went to share it with the parish priest who by then had become a friend. He wasn’t expecting it and knowing my artistic skills, he asked me to decorate a noticeboard on which he usually posted the announcements of the pilgrimages he organized for the parishioners. It was a modest gesture, but for him it was significant and sealed the new harmony established between us.
(F. Italy)
Michel and his boys
Michel was responsible for the human and spiritual formation of a group of teenagers. During the Easter holidays he took them for a sort of retreat in a boarding school that had been left empty by the students who had gone home. There were about 30 boys, all very lively. The first night, spent playing games went well. The hard part was bedtime, when one could expect some mischief. So, once they went to bed and turned off all the lights, Michel waited. Silence. After 10 pm, he heard some bedroom doors opening softly. He let them all slip out and then suddenly stepped out himself turning on the lights in the hallway. The boys froze, expecting a scolding. Instead Michel exclaimed: “And now… let’s all go into town to eat frites” (French fries made in Belgium with a special technique: a local specialty). The boys didn’t expect it. Happy, they went out and each one had a cone of frites. Then, satisfied, they returned to their accommodation quietly. Won over by Michel, the retreat was very successful.
(G.F. Belgium)
My at risk students
Before discovering the Gospel as a code for life, as a teenager I thought that following Jesus meant giving up many things: now I know that the only thing you have to give up is your own selfishness. Everything else is a gain. After that change of direction, I felt more and more strongly the need to deepen, through theological studies, my knowledge of the God who changed my life. For me now, teaching religion in classes where there is no shortage of students at risk is a mission that stems from the duty to share the gift I have received. It is not easy: in general, because of their social background, poverty and perhaps also the lack of role models, they are a blank slate when it comes to religion. They see the Church with its precepts as distant and outdated. The first step then, is to make friends with them, to get to know their interests. In everyone, there is always something positive to highlight and then, by building on that, it is easier for them to open up and welcome the Christian message.
From October 1–3, 2025, Castel Gandolfo (Italy) will host the international conference “Raising Hope for Climate Justice”, a historic gathering to mark the tenth anniversary of the Laudato Si’ encyclical and to foster a global response to the climate and ecological crisis from the perspectives of faith, politics, and civil society.
The event will feature His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, alongside prominent leaders such as Brazil’s Environment Minister Marina Silva and former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, along with bishops, international agency officials, indigenous leaders, climate and biodiversity experts, and civil society representatives. Over three days, the conference will include keynotes, panel discussions, spiritual moments, and cultural events that highlight both the progress made since Laudato Si’ and the urgent steps needed ahead of COP30 in Brazil.
“In a time marked by global challenges and deep wounds, our commitment for unity and peace cannot exclude a pursuit of climate justice that places human dignity and care for creation at its core.” This is the declaration of Margaret Karram, the President of the Focolare Movement, who is one of the event’s partners. She continues, “As Focolare Movement, we want to collaborate with everyone, in protecting and safeguarding our common home, and with a new responsibility we want to live closeness to the poor and solidarity among the generations for a sustainable future.”
The event will be held in person at Castel Gandolfo and streamed live, enabling thousands of people and media outlets worldwide to follow the main messages and join the global conversation.
