(Vatican Radio) Pope Benedict XVI has sent a Message, through his Secretary of
State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, to the participants in this weekend’s global gathering
of young people of the Focolare Movement, called “Genfest”, taking place in the Hungarian
city of Budapest. The Message is addressed to Maria Voce, President of the Focolare
Movement.
Please find the full text of the Message below.
Dear
Miss Voce,
The Holy Father was pleased to be informed of the celebration of
Genfest 2012, taking place in Budapest from 31 August to 2 September, and he sends
heartfelt greetings to all the young people taking part.
His Holiness notes
that the city itself is an eloquent symbol, on many levels, of inspirations that bring
so many young people together for the celebration entitled Let’s Bridge. The numerous
bridges across the Danube, linking the former settlements of Buda and Pest and bringing
them into unity, were all destroyed in the wake of the Second World War. Yet out of
the ashes of that terrible conflict, there arose a determination to build peace on
lasting foundations, a determination which was to be the inspiration behind the founding
of the Focolare Movement. The bridges across the Danube were rebuilt, and the international
community set itself the goal of eliminating once and for all the conditions that
might lead to future conflict.
While Budapest itself, together with much of
Eastern Europe, continued to suffer under the oppression of a totalitarian regime,
there too, new possibilities for freedom and fraternal outreach have come about since
the end of the Cold War. May this beautiful city be a sign of hope to inspire all
the young people present to offer the hand of friendship to those from other backgrounds
and cultures, “in such a way as to shape the earthly city in unity and peace, rendering
it to some degree an anticipation and prefiguration of the undivided city of God”
(Caritas in Veritate, 7).
With these sentiments, the Holy Father gladly imparts
his Apostolic Blessing to all those taking part in Genfest 2012, as a pledge of lasting
peace and joy.
Yours sincerely, Signed +Tarcisio Card. Bertone Secretary
of State