Pope encourages Society of
African Missions in zeal, prays for abducted priest
Pope Francis urges SMA missionaries to persevere in serving
victims of war and human trafficking, and assures his prayers for Fr. Pierluigi
Maccalli, who was abducted last year in Niger.
By Devin Watkins
The Society of African Missions is a missionary order of
priests who serve Catholics in Africa, often in rural areas, as well as
communities of African origin in other parts of the world.
Pope Francis met Friday with participants in the Society’s
ongoing General Assembly.
On May 11th, the Assembly elected Fr. Antonio
Porcellato as the new Superior General. He takes over from Fr. Fachtna
O’Driscoll, who has completed his 6-year mandate.
Missionary zeal
In an address, Pope Francis thanked the missionaries for
their “great work of evangelization” in places where the Christian community is
still fragile and for their special attention to migrants.
“These new pastoral horizons are a sign of the vitality of
the Holy Spirit at work in you,” the Pope said.
He praised their “courageous missionary zeal”, which he said
is modeled on their Founders: Servant of God Melchior de Marion Brésillac and
Fr. Augustin Planque.
Pope Francis also joined the missionaries in prayer for
Italian Fr. Pierluigi Maccalli, SMA, who was kidnapped from his parish in
Niger, on September 17, 2018. “I would like… to assure you of the concern and
attention of the Holy See regarding this worrying situation,” he said.
Serving the vulnerable
The Society of African Missions has spent the year preparing
for its General Assembly by highlighting the wider SMA apostolic community of
lay associates and missionary sisters.
Pope Francis called the group “a joyful family, which is
growing thanks to numerous vocations in Africa and in Asia.”
“I encourage you to persevere in your efforts,” he said, “to
serve children, vulnerable people, and victims of war, illness, and human
trafficking. The choice in favor of the last – those whom society discards and
casts aside – is a sign that concretely manifests the presence and concern of
the merciful Christ.”
New paths, old roots
Pope Francis invited the missionaries to care for the poor,
through “a culture of dialogue and of encounter”, and urged them to dare to
open new paths which demonstrate the newness of God.
“Faithful to your roots,” he said, “you are called as a
family to witness to the Risen Christ through the love that unites you to one
another and through the radiant joy of authentic community life.”
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