Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Fides Service) - This morning, 29 November Pope John Paul II granted a special audience to members of the "Comunità Papa Giovanni XXIII", association founded by Rev. Oreste Benzi. In his address the Pope said: “From the beginning, when Rev. Oreste Benzi opened the first Family-Home, your Community, recognised a few months ago and as an international private association of faithful of Pontifical right, has distinguished itself for its unique service to those most in need and its authentic style of sharing, aimed at regenerating with love people without a family for various reasons”.
“You are well aware that charity towards others assumes its greatest value if it is based on the primacy of love of God. In order to give genuine love to others, love must be first drawn from God. This is why you opportunely devote much time to prayer, to listening to the Word of God and you root your whole life in Christ.”
“Continue to give attention to your spiritual formation and to the frequent reception of the Sacraments. Make the Eucharist the heart of every Family-Home and all social and educational activity. In this year dedicated to the Sacrament of the altar, revive contemplation and love for the Divine Redeemer who offers himself to us as food for eternal life. From him you must draw the spiritual strength to be tireless workers for his Gospel and to offer his tenderness to all in conditions of hardship and abandonment”.
More than three thousand people came from all over Italy to Rome for the audience, to listen to the Holy Father. It was a great event for the Comunità, which has homes in 21 different countries and 180 dioceses in various parts of the world. “It will be a meeting between the father and his children” Rev. Oreste Benzi said earlier, “and we will show how happy we are to have our place in the Church in harmony with Bishops all over the world . The 30th anniversary is a motive for celebration and thanksgiving for final recognition of our Association received through the Pontifical Council for the Laity as an international association of Catholics with pontifical right. This is the Church’s recognition of the vocation of the members of the Comunità Papa Giovanni XXIII, whose specific aim is to follow Jesus, poor, servant and suffering, victim of expiation for sins and visible sharing with the poorest of the poor. With this act the Church gives the Comunità three tasks: personal sanctification, build up the Kingdom of God, take part in the Church’s mission of salvation. The vocation is verified in service of the poor, living as the poor, giving space to contemplation in obedience and fraternity. The Church also calls on the Comunità to eliminate the causes of marginalisation and factories of the poor. It also calls us to develop the Evangelisation of the World as a vital transplant.”
Today the Community has 1,614 members who care for a total number of 4,230 persons in 467 structures: 240 Family-Homes, 21 day work centres, 8 hostels for former prostitutes, 8 prayer homes, 9 emergency homes, 6 emergency centres for children, 3 farms, 4 hotels and holiday homes, 2 schools, 3 centres for alcoholics, 9 fraternity homes, 28 open families, 2 homes for social objectors and peace, 36 therapeutic communities, 7 Bethlehem Stables, 1 gym, 1 centre for collecting clothes, 1 feeding centre for tramps, 15 co-operatives, 61 operative centres 2 homes for prisoners.
(P.L.R.) (Agenzia Fides 29/11/2004 - Righe 40; Parole 596)
