Pope Leo XIV receives participants in General Chapters of several religious institutes at Castel Gandolfo (@Vatican Media)
Pope Leo XIV: Embrace 'marvelous adventure' of following
Christ more closely
Pope Leo XIV invites members of several religious
congregations holding their General Chapters to take part in the
"marvelous adventure" of following Christ more closely.
By Deborah Castellano Lubov
Embrace the marvelous adventure of following Christ more
closely.
Pope Leo XIV gave this exhortation to religious men and
women on Saturday morning in Castel Gandolfo, where he is staying for his
summer vacation.
While Popes generally hold few encounters during their stay
in the lakeside town southeast of Rome, the Holy Father welcomed participants
in the General Chapters of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions
(P.I.M.E.); Religious Teachers Filippini; Religious Teachers Venerini;
Daughters of the Church; Salesian Oblate Sisters of the Sacred Heart; and
Franciscan Sisters of St. Angela (Angeline Franciscans).
The Holy Father began by thanking them for their work and
"faithful presence" in so many parts of the world, noting their
Founders and Foundresses, "docile to the action of the Holy Spirit, have
left you a variety of charisms for the building up of the Body of Christ."
Love of God for humanity
The Pope observed that their respective Institutes
"embody complementary aspects of the life and mission of the entire people
of God," naming in particular "the offering of self in union with
Christ’s Sacrifice, the ad gentes mission, love for the Church
preserved and handed on, and the education and formation of young
people."
These, he said, are different paths all animated by the one
eternal reality, namely, "God's love for humanity."
"As is customary," the Pope recognized that each
of their Congregations has identified particular perspectives through which to
reread the legacy received, in order to renew and make its content relevant for
today," and he invited them to do this with deep prayer and mutual
listening."
Benedict XVI's reminder
The Holy Spirit, Pope Leo said, quoting Benedict XVI,
recalled that it is the Spirit who, "through the contribution of many
under the guidance of the Pastors, 'helps the Christian community to walk in
charity toward the full truth.'"
Pope Leo receives
participants in General Chapters of several religious institutes at Castel
Gandolfo (@Vatican Media)
In this context, the Pope underscored the importance of
renewing an authentic missionary spirit, adopting the sentiments 'that were in
Christ Jesus,' rooting their hope in God, keeping alive in their hearts the
flame of the Spirit, promoting peace, and fostering pastoral co-responsibility
within local Churches.
Marvelous adventure of following Christ more closely
"To place these side by side and recall them together
at this moment," Pope Leo marveled, "helps us to appreciate the
richness of our being a community—especially as religious—engaged in the same
marvelous adventure of 'following Christ more closely.'”
"May this renew and strengthen in all of us the
awareness and joy of being Church," the Pope said, expressing his hope
that this in particular encourage them, in their Chapter discernment, "to
think boldly as unique pieces of a design that transcends and involves you
beyond your own expectations."
God's plan of salvation
That design, Pope Leo XIV noted, is "the plan of
salvation" by which God desires to bring all humanity back to Himself, as
one great family.
Like small lights, he urged them to help the light of
Christ, "which never fades," spread throughout the earth.
Before imparting his Apostolic Blessing, Pope Leo XIV
invited those present to join him "in asking the Lord together to make us
docile to the voice of His Spirit, who 'teaches all things,' and without whose
help—in our weakness—we do not even know how to pray as we ought.'"
Pope Leo XIV receives
participants in General Chapters of several religious institutes at Castel
Gandolfo (@Vatican Media)
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