Over 150 delegations from all over the world attended Pope Leo’s inaugural Mass: political leaders, heads of Christian Churches, representatives of different religions and over 200,000 faithful from all over the world. It took place in St. Peter’s Square on 18th May. The new Pontiff wanted to begin by meeting the pilgrims, traveling around the Square and along the Via della Conciliazione in the Pope-mobile, in a long, joyous and emotional greeting. He then paused at the tomb of Peter, of whom he is now the successor, before commencing the Eucharistic celebration.
A group from the International Centre of the Focolare attended in representation of the President of the Movement, Margaret Karram and the Co-President Jesús Morán who are currently in the United States.
Silvia Escandell (Argentina), Focolare Central Delegate, described the moment, “This was an experience of the universality of the Church. I felt that Pope Leo XIV, surely also thanks to his charism, draws together this profound diversity into unity. I was impressed by how he immediately used two words, ‘love and unity’ and how his entire address followed this theme . I was also moved when he referred to Peter, to whom Jesus said to cast the nets, and how the Pope called us to do so again, knowing these are the nets of the Gospel, which goes out to meet every person. It seems to me a sign of great hope, for the Church and for humanity ”.
Photos: St. Peter’s Square crowded with the faithful, a moment of the celebration and the group from the Focolare International Centre.
Ray Asprer (Philippines), also Central Delegate of the Focolare Movement, said, “For me today was a powerful experience of progressing towards a united world. . Seeing the entire square filled and above all, listening to the Pope’s appeal expressing his vision of a Church as an instrument of unity, I felt that this was exactly what we were living there, in all its solemnity, but also as a real experience. We were standing together from all over the world, gathered around the Pope who proclaimed that the Church’s mission is love and unity. I felt a call to unity as a sign of the times ”.
Chiara Cuneo (Italy), Councillor at the International Centre of Focolare and co-responsible for Dialogue between Movements and new Communities within the Catholic Church, also spoke of hope, saying.“In this world, in this dark time, hope is a light that guides us. During the Mass I thought that, sometimes, it takes the desert, to allow you to see the sprouts of hope. And today is one of those shoots: something is growing ”.
“The words of the Pope about walking together were very inclusive. He really mentioned everyone, we were all included, absolutely everyone“.
“She concluded, “I was able to greet some Founders and Presidents of various Church Movements. It was a moment of celebration, joy and renewed hope for everyone. We all felt the desire to continue this journey together, truly wishing to love one another more and more, just as the Pope said ”.
Enno Dijkema (Netherlands) Councillor at the International Centre of Focolare and Co-Responsible for the Centre for Christian Unity, added, “There were also many leaders of other Christian Churchesand the Pope clearly said that he wants to be in dialogue with everyone and that he wants to be a servant of the unity of the Church of Christ.I was very movedwhen he spoke of his ministry and described it not as being above all, but below, as love, as service that brings joy and faith to all Christians and to the whole world. In front of so many heads of State it seemed to me a beautiful testimony, a meaningful indication of ‘power’ understood as love, as service ”.
On 25th November 2023, Margaret Karram, President of the Focolare Movement, was appointed Member of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life. Pope Francis has appointed 11 new Members of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, for a five-year period. They include the President of the Work of Mary (Focolare Movement), Margaret Karram. She is one of the men and women, single and married, engaged in different fields of activity and from different parts of the world who will represent and enrich the universal face of the Church, alongside those already in office. The other new members are: Archbishop Josep Ángel Saiz Meneses of Seville, Spain; the Reverend Andrea D’Auria, F.S.C.B., director of the International Centre of Communion and Liberation; the Reverend Luis Felipe Navarro Marfá, Magnificent Rector of the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome, Italy; the Distinguished Benoît and Véronique Rabourdin, international heads of Amour et Verité della Communauté de l’Emmanuel; Joseph Teyu Chou and Clare Jiayann Yeh, respectively lecturer in the Department of Public Financeof the National Chengchi University in Taipei, Taiwan and founder and director of the Marriage and Family Pastoral Centerof the Chinese Regional Bishops’ Conference; Professor Ana María Celis Brunet, president of the Consejo Nacional para la Prevención de abusos y acompañamento de víctimas,of the Episcopal Conference of Chile; Professor Maria Luisa Di Pietro, director of the Centre for Research and Study on Reproductive Health of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Rome, Italy; Professor Carmen Peña García, lecturer in marriage law at the Facultad de Derecho Canónico dell’Universidad Pontificia Comillas in Madrid, Spain. The new members, whose appointment was published on 25th November 2023 in the Bulletin of the Holy See Press Office, join those previously appointed and all those still in office. The updated list can be consulted on the website of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life on the “Members and Consultors”page.
The wide embrace of Bernini’s colonnade is not able to contain the crowd of people who belong to as many as 56 new communities and ecclesial movements; a tiny representation of the approximately 80,000,000 Catholics, for the most part lay people, who make up this immense people. It’s the first time that they are meeting all together with the Pope. An enormous multicolored garden: this is the way someone described St. Peter’s Square on that sunny afternoon of May 30. The presence of members of the various movements, who with their specific charisms contribute towards making the Church beautiful, alive, and credible, constituted a surprising and remarkable display of unity in diversity. A reality witnessed to by founders of four of the most widespread movements: Chiara Lubich, Kiko Arguello, Jean Vanier, Luigi Giussani. Their charisms draw life from the same Spirit; it is a unity in diversity, demonstrating Christian life as a reflection of the Trinitarian mystery. « …numerous charisms are always born in the most important moments of the life of the Church. I’m thinking of the Council of Trent. … Today then, I would say that the Holy Spirit …, blowing in the same direction, puts the accent on different notes, because the life of the Church is like a symphony, a great concert; many instruments are needed, the greatest number of voices are needed». (Msgr. Piero Coda) Therefore, a wide variety of charisms are at the basis of the many new ecclesial movements, supported and encouraged by the Pope as the providential answer of the Holy Spirit to the challenges at the end of this millennium. In his address Pope John Paul II does not hesitate to affirm that what happened in the Upper Room in Jerusalem 2,000 years ago, is being renewed this evening in St. Peter’s Square. «With the Second Vatican Council, the Comforter recently gave the Church … a renewed Pentecost, instilling a new and unforeseen dynamism. … You, present here, are the tangible proof of this “outpouring” of the Spirit». (Pope John Paul II) In speaking of the journey taken so far by the movements, Pope John Paul II sees them now on their way toward a new stage of ecclesial maturity in which their strong common announcement is a valid alternative to the secularized culture which encourages and promotes models of life without God.«It constitutes a precious capital for the entire mission of the Church. Its founder did not say in vain that the witness of unity is “so that the world may believe.” The missionary fecundity of the movements will be potentiated if this witness of unity in diversity shines forth so that the world may believe».(GusmánCarriquiri) A witness of unity among all the movements in view of the new evangelization: Chiara expressed this need to the Pope.
«We know that the Church, and you too, desire full communion, unity among the Movements, and this has already begun. We want to assure you, Your Holiness, that, because our specific charism is unity, we will make every effort to contribute, with all our strength, towards fully accomplishing it». (Chiara Lubich)
This commitment assumed by Chiara corresponds to the aspirations of all the leaders of other movements.
Therefore, a wide variety of charisms are at the basis of the many new ecclesial movements, supported and encouraged by the Pope as the providential answer of the Holy Spirit to the challenges at the end of this millennium. In his address Pope John Paul II does not hesitate to affirm that what happened in the Upper Room in Jerusalem 2,000 years ago, is being renewed this evening in St. Peter’s Square. «With the Second Vatican Council, the Comforter recently gave the Church … a renewed Pentecost, instilling a new and unforeseen dynamism. … You, present here, are the tangible proof of this “outpouring” of the Spirit». (Pope John Paul II) In speaking of the journey taken so far by the movements, Pope John Paul II sees them now on their way toward a new stage of ecclesial maturity in which their strong common announcement is a valid alternative to the secularized culture which encourages and promotes models of life without God. «It constitutes a precious capital for the entire mission of the Church. Its founder did not say in vain that the witness of unity is “so that the world may believe.” The missionary fecundity of the movements will be potentiated if this witness of unity in diversity shines forth so that the world may believe».(Gusmán Carriquiri) 