Pope meets Franciscans

(April 18, 2009) Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday encouraged Franciscans worldwide to continue evangelizing the world by incarnating Jesus in their lifestyle under the guidance of the Pope and the Catholic Church, just as their founder, St. Francis of Assisi did 800 years ago. The Pope’s exhortation came in an address he delivered to some 3000 Franciscans who met him at the Papal residence of Castelgandolfo, outside Rome, in a symbolic gesture of their allegiance to the Pope. Franciscans worldwide met in Assisi, Italy, April 15-18 to mark Pope Innocent III’s approval of the Rule of St. Francis in April 1209. It also commemorated the first general chapter of the Franciscans, called by Francis in 1221, five years before his death.
Pope Benedict observed at that time when some groups and religious movements were opposed to the Church and did not seek its approval, St. Francis could have won many followers by not submitting to the Pope. Instead, he, along with his companions, put themselves in the hands of the bishop of Rome, the Successor of Peter, a fact, Pope Benedict said, reveals his true ecclesial spirit. “Eight centuries have gone by, and you have wished to renew the gesture of your Founder,” the Pope told the Franciscans and thanked them. He recalled Francis of Assisi’s conversion from wayward ways and his total gift of self to Christ, such that he became a living Gospel, capable of attracting men and women of every time to Christ, especially youth who prefer half measure commitments. “Go and continue repairing the house of the Lord Jesus Christ, His Church,” the Pope said, speaking of the numerous churches destroyed by the recent earthquake in Italy’s Abruzzo region. But there is a ruin much more serious than that, the Pope said, speaking of persons and communities. This reparation, he said, begins from the self.