{"id":291012,"date":"2005-03-05T23:00:00","date_gmt":"2005-03-05T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.focolare.org\/90-bishops-friends-of-the-focolare-pray-for-the-pope\/"},"modified":"2024-05-13T20:37:37","modified_gmt":"2024-05-13T18:37:37","slug":"90-bishops-friends-of-the-focolare-pray-for-the-pope","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.focolare.org\/en\/90-bishops-friends-of-the-focolare-pray-for-the-pope\/","title":{"rendered":"90 bishops, friends of the Focolare, pray for the Pope"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0A solemn Eucharistic concelebration to pray for the Pope\u2019s complete recovery was said by 90 bishops coming from 47 different countries, gathered at Castelgandolfo for their annual meeting. The news of the Pope\u2019s unexpected additional confinement reached them just before the conclusion of their meeting which began on February 19. Before leaving for their respective dioceses, they sent the Pope a message of gratitude, assuring him of their prayers for his prompt recovery: \u201cUnited with the whole Church, we ask for extraordinary graces for you.\u201d The bishops expressed their deep gratitude to the Pope \u201cfor your luminous example of faith and love in facing this new trial and for your ministry which is wholly a gift!\u201d Indeed, the outstanding characteristic of those days was the exchange of messages with the Pope. An unexpected letter from the Pope, addressed to Cardinal Miloslav Vlk, arrived right before the Congress started. In reply, the bishops wrote: \u201cHoly Father, truly you are the one who \u2018loves most\u2019 and \u2018confirms his brothers\u2019.\u201d <\/p>\n

\"\"John Paul II in his message made special mention of Chiara Lubich, expressing his \u201cgratitude for the evangelical witness which the Movement gives in many parts of the world.\u201d With reference to the theme of the meeting he encouraged the bishops \u201cto give witness in today\u2019s society to the presence of the Risen Christ, the center of the Church\u201d and \u201cvital principle\u201d which cannot but give rise to a \u201crenewed apostolic vitality\u201d and \u201cmissionary audacity\u201d responsive to the challenges of our times. He therefore invited the participants to be \u201celoquent signs\u201d of the love of the crucified and risen Lord, present in the Eucharist and \u201cartifices of his peace everywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chiara Lubich, in her message read by Natalia Dallapiccola, one of her first companions, underscored that \u201cThe Risen Jesus is not a static presence;\u201d but he is a \u201c\u2018unifying principle,\u2019 and is therefore active: love.\u201d She went on to say, \u201cThis, however, requires the response of the human being.\u201d \u201cEvery division in the community … alters the profound identity of the Church… This is why, at times, the Church is not loved.\u201d \u201cIt is reciprocity, communion, which renders the Lord \u2018visible\u2019.\u201d A number of bishops from different countries shared moving experiences of fruitful initiatives in the area of evangelization, of establishing peace between different ethnic groups and among politicians in nations suffering from conflict, such as Burundi, or in regions of Central America. There were also experiences of bishops, priests and lay people on \u201crenewed apostolic vitality,\u201d fruit of the presence of the Risen Jesus, in ecumenical and interreligious dialogue as well as in political and social fields.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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