Surprise and trepidation was the reaction of the Bishops, friends of the Focolare Movement, at the news of the Pope\u2019s additional confinement in the hospital. They received the news just before the conclusion of their meeting held from Feb. 19-25, 2005 at the Mariapolis Center of Castelgandolfo (Rome). Before leaving for their respective dioceses, they sent the Pope this message: \u201cDearest Holy Father, before leaving Castelgandolfo, we are sending you our warmest greetings together with our heartfelt wishes for your prompt recovery. United with the whole Church in unceasing prayer, together with Mary Most Holy, we ask for extraordinary graces and comfort from the Holy Spirit, the Consoler, for you. Thank you, Holy Father, for your luminous example of faith and love in facing this new trial. Thank you for your ministry which is wholly a gift!\u201d Indeed, the outstanding characteristic of those days was the exchange of messages with the Pope. A letter from the Pope to Cardinal Miloslav Vlk, promoter of the meeting – a completely unexpected gift during these days of the Pope\u2019s infirmity \u2013 gave a powerful and incisive tone to the days together. In reply, the bishops wrote: \u201cHoly Father, truly you are the one who \u2018loves most\u2019 and \u2018confirms his brothers\u2019.\u201d 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 \u2013 \u201cThe presence of the Risen Jesus in the midst of his people: a vital principle for the Church of the 3rd millenium\u201d \u2013 the Pope encouraged the bishops \u201cto give witness in today\u2019s society to the presence of the Risen Christ, the center of the Church.\u201d He also said that a \u201crenewed apostolic vitality and missionary audacity,\u201d responsive to the challenges of our times cannot but spring forth from a gathering based on this \u201cvital principle.\u201d 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 The presentations offered throughout those days marked by the warmth of brotherhood among all, reiterated the Pope\u2019s appeal, as they presented the numerous sufferings of humanity: wars, hunger, sickness, precarious political and economic situations. At the same time, they transmitted an even greater faith in God\u2019s intervention, inspiring firm and enlightened action. For example, Bishop Simon Ntamwana of Burundi spoke of the efforts done by his country\u2019s episcopate to create a culture of peace and reconciliation after these difficult recent years. A bishop from Central America related how, strengthened by the experience he had made in last year\u2019s meeting, to his surprise, he was able to act as a peacemaker among politicians. Bishop Desiderius Rwoma of Tanzania spoke of the spreading of the spreading of the Gospel as a result of constituting small spiritually formed Christian communities which are now attracting even a large number of non-Christians. Chiara Lubich, in her message read by Natalia Dallapiccola, one of her first companions, dealt in depth on Jesus\u2019 promise to be present there \u201cwhere two or more are united\u201d in his name (see Mt 18,20). She underlined that \u201cThe Risen Jesus is not a static presence; rather he is a \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, therefore, is against nature,\u201d rather, \u201cit creates an alteration in the profound identity of the community, which is Christ present there… This is why, at times, the Church is not loved.\u201d It is, therefore, necessary to lead the believers\u2019 interrelationships ever more closely towards \u201creciprocity, towards communion, which renders the Lord \u2018visible\u2019.\u201d Conscious of the current world situation, the bishops manifested a deep sensitivity to these concepts, which were elaborated on in the succeeding days through a series of cultural reflections. These were offered by philosopher, Giuseppe Maria Zangh\u00ec, who spoke on the turnabout of this epoch and on the developments of academic dialogue with the Hindus and the Buddhists; by Hubertus Blaumeiser and Brendan Leahy \u2013 two theologians – who dealt on how the comprehension of the presence of the Risen Jesus and giving him the central place can affect various aspects of the life of the Church; Brazilian sociologist, Vera Araujo, who spoke on the human person in the context of a global society. These reflections were reinforced by the experiences shared by bishops, priests and lay people on the \u201crenewed apostolic vitality\u201d that comes from the presence of the Risen Jesus. The ecumenical aspect was presented through experiences on the dialogue of life, offered by bishops of different Churches. They also spoke of the growth in communion among movements and communities, made manifest in the great meeting at Stuttgart last May, entitled \u201cTogether for Europe\u201d. Evangelical Pastor Friedrich Ashoff elaborated on this meeting. The political dimension was illustrated by Lucia Crepaz, president of the \u201cPolitical Movement for Unity\u201d. Tracing the ten-year experience of this Movement, she explained the characteristics of a political action that aims at being service to society, whose method is dialogue, and is therefore able to create \u201ca network made up of different elements.\u201d The planned \u201cFamilyfest\u201d of April 16, 2005, announced by Annamaria and Danilo Zanzucchi, directors of the New Families Movement of the Focolare, drew the special interest of the bishops. At a time when the family as an institution is undergoing a serious crisis, the event hopes to put into light the family according to God\u2019s plan in the context of today\u2019s challenges. A large number of bishops expressed their desire to cooperate in making the Familyfest a reality in their respective countries. There are in fact 120 spots all over the world, which will be linked with Rome on live by television. \u201cHere I experienced the freshness of the Gospel,\u201d remarked Bishop Jean Ntagwarara from Burundi, one of the 20 bishops from Africa present. Expressing the conviction shared by many of his co-bishops, he said: \u201cThe spirituality put into practice is the remedy that can heal the many wounds of our people.\u201d Bishop Giovanni Dettori from Sardinia (Italy), had this to say: \u201cUnity gives me strength: one can feel that we are all one heart and one soul.\u201d The most frequent observation of the participants was, in fact, that of having experienced \u201cthe living Jesus\u201d throughout the time together, Jesus who today continues to touch the hearts of people and to move minds and arms to act in accordance with his Gospel and to express the gift of his love among people. In the context of this year dedicated to the Eucharist, particularly meaningful was the concelebration presided over by Bishops grouped according to different continents, who used elements typical of their respective cultures.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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