Pope Francis' message to the Franciscan family on the 800th anniversary of the confirmation of the Rule of the Friars Minor by Pope Honorius III..
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE
F RANCISCAN FAMILY
Dear Brothersand Sisters
It is with joy in my heart that I wish to send you my best wishes on such an
important occasion for the entire Franciscan Family, whose prayerful presence and
filial closeness I have felt since the beginning of the Petrine Ministry. The eighth
centenary of the confirmation of the Rule of the Friars Minor by Pope Honorius III which took place at the Lateran on November 29, 1223 is an auspicious occasion not only because it commemorates an historical event, but above all because it revives in you the same sp irit that inspired Francis of Assisi to strip himself of everything, and give rise to a unique and fascinating form of life since it is rooted in the Gospel and lived sine glossa . May this jubilee be for each of you a time of inner rebirth, of a renewed missionary mandate for the Church which calls you to go out to meet the world where many brothers and sisters are waiting to be consoled, loved and cared for.
Therefore, moved by these sentiments, I am here to deliver you some exhortations that arise precisely from the words of the Poverello of Assisi, who advises his friars to “[…] observe poverty and humility and the holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ […]” ( Regola bollata XII :4)
Observing the Holy Gospel
The Regola bollata in fact begins and ends with an explicit reference to the in fact begins and ends with an explicit reference to the in fact begins and ends with an explicit reference to the in fact begins and ends with an explicit reference to the Gospel. The opening expressionGospel. The opening expression isis an illuminating synthesis of the entire Rule: “The an illuminating synthesis of the entire Rule: “The Rule and life of the friars minor is this: to observe the Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Rule and life of the friars minor is this: to observe the Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ by living in obedience, without anything of one’s own and in chastity” Christ by living in obedience, without anything of one’s own and in chastity” (Regola bollata I:1)
For St. Francis, the Gospel was at the center of his existence; and the Church For St. Francis, the Gospel was at the center of his existence; and the Church has approved its purpose, returning it to him and to all of you Franciscans as a text has approved its purpose, returning it to him and to all of you Franciscans as a text that no longer expresses only the spiritual intuition of a Founder, but a form of life. that no longer expresses only the spiritual intuition of a Founder, but a form of life. ItIt is a message of joy that I have often wished to point out because it “fills the heart is a message of joy that I have often wished to point out because it “fills the heart and the entire life of those who encounter Jesus.” (and the entire life of those who encounter Jesus.” (Evangelii gaudium,No. 1).
It is therefore urgent to return to the foundation of a Christian and baptismal It is therefore urgent to return to the foundation of a Christian and baptismal commitmentcommitment, capable of being inspired, in every choice, by the Word of the Lord: , capable of being inspired, in every choice, by the Word of the Lord: Christ is the focal point of your spirituality! Ben men and women who truly learn Christ is the focal point of your spirituality! Ben men and women who truly learn “rule and life” in His school!“rule and life” in His school!
Obedience to the Church
Beloved, to live the teachings of the Master it is necessary to remain in the Beloved, to live the teachings of the Master it is necessary to remain in the Church. Francis manifests this in a decisive manner because to the introductory Church. Francis manifests this in a decisive manner because to the introductory sentence which describes the desire to follow the evangelical sentence which describes the desire to follow the evangelical counsels,counsels, he he immediately adds suggestive words, singular in content and language: immediately adds suggestive words, singular in content and language: “Brother “Brother Francis promises obedience and reverence to our Lord Pope Honorius and his Francis promises obedience and reverence to our Lord Pope Honorius and his successors canonically elected and to the Roman Church. Let the other brothers be successors canonically elected and to the Roman Church. Let the other brothers be bound to obey Brother Francis and his succesbound to obey Brother Francis and his successors. (Regola bollata 1:2--3)
In that bond of In that bond of “obedience and reverenceobedience and reverence” to the Pope and to the Church of to the Pope and to the Church of Rome, heRome, he acknowledgesacknowledges an essential an essential element for faithfulnesselement for faithfulness to the call and to the call and forfor receiving Christ in the Eucharist;receiving Christ in the Eucharist; This is why he declares without hesitation his This is why he declares without hesitation his indispensable belonging to the Church.indispensable belonging to the Church. So then, live the spirit of the Rule by So then, live the spirit of the Rule by listening to and dialoging with one another, as the synodal path suggests doing. listening to and dialoging with one another, as the synodal path suggests doing. Support the Church with a firm hold, repair it by your example and by your Support the Church with a firm hold, repair it by your example and by your testimony, even when it seems to cost mtestimony, even when it seems to cost more!ore!
Going Out intointo the Worldthe World
Finally, I want to take up an insight Finally, I want to take up an insight always always found in the found in the Regola bollataRegola bollata about about going out into the world. going out into the world. Speaking in first person, Speaking in first person, the Seraphic Father articulates the Seraphic Father articulates thusly: “I counsel, admonish and exhort my brothers in the Lord Jesus Christ not to thusly: “I counsel, admonish and exhort my brothers in the Lord Jesus Christ not to quarrel or dispute or judge others when they go about in the world; but let them be quarrel or dispute or judge others when they go about in the world; but let them be meek, peaceful, modest, gentle and humble, speaking courmeek, peaceful, modest, gentle and humble, speaking courteously to everyone, as is teously to everyone, as is becoming. […] Into whatever house they enter, let them first say: Peace be to this becoming. […] Into whatever house they enter, let them first say: Peace be to this house […]” (house […]” (Reg:10--13)
Going around the world for you Franciscan friars and sisters really means Going around the world for you Franciscan friars and sisters really means realizing your itinerant vocation in the manner of fraternity and a peaceful life, realizing your itinerant vocation in the manner of fraternity and a peaceful life, without quarrels or disputes either between you or with others, giving proof of without quarrels or disputes either between you or with others, giving proof of “minority”, with m“minority”, with meekness and docility, announcing the peace of the Lord and eekness and docility, announcing the peace of the Lord and entrusting yourselves to providence: it is a special plan for evangelization, possible entrusting yourselves to providence: it is a special plan for evangelization, possible for everyone.
From this perspective, it is good to rediscover the beauty of the characteristic From this perspective, it is good to rediscover the beauty of the characteristic Franciscan evangelizationFranciscan evangelization which is borne from a fraternity to promote fraternity; in which is borne from a fraternity to promote fraternity; in fact, it is a life that speaks, love given in service is the greatest vehicle for fact, it is a life that speaks, love given in service is the greatest vehicle for proclamation. Find strength, therefore, in that peculiar vocation, proper to “minors” proclamation. Find strength, therefore, in that peculiar vocation, proper to “minors” and “the poor,” such as you and “the poor,” such as you are by your desire and your sense of belonging.are by your desire and your sense of belonging.
It is given to you by Francis in his Rule and I am convinced that it is in tune It is given to you by Francis in his Rule and I am convinced that it is in tune with the invitation I address to the Christian Community to be a “Church that goes with the invitation I address to the Christian Community to be a “Church that goes out”: out”: “In fidelity to the example of the Master, it is vitally important for the Church “In fidelity to the example of the Master, it is vitally important for the Church today to go forth and preach the Gospel to all: to all places, on all occasions, without today to go forth and preach the Gospel to all: to all places, on all occasions, without hesitation, reluctance or fear. The joy of the Gospel is for all people: no one can bhesitation, reluctance or fear. The joy of the Gospel is for all people: no one can be e excluded.” (Evangelii gaudium, No. 23).
And therefore I say to you: do not hesitate to go about the world in “fraternity” And therefore I say to you: do not hesitate to go about the world in “fraternity” and in “minority” sharing the blessedness of poverty, becoming an eloquent sign of and in “minority” sharing the blessedness of poverty, becoming an eloquent sign of evangelism and showing to our ageevangelism and showing to our age –– markedmarked so unfortunatelyso unfortunately by wars and conflict, by wars and conflict, byby all kinds of egoism and rationale for exploitation of the environment and of the all kinds of egoism and rationale for exploitation of the environment and of the poor poor –– that the Gospel is indeed the good news for man to find the best direction for that the Gospel is indeed the good news for man to find the best direction for constructing a new humanity together with the courage to set out towards Jesus, who constructing a new humanity together with the courage to set out towards Jesus, who “thou“though hegh he was rich, became poor for us, so that we might become rich through his was rich, became poor for us, so that we might become rich through his poverty” (Cf. 2 Cor 8:9)
Dear BrothersDear Brothers and Sistersand Sisters, I entrust to you the mission of recognizing the right , I entrust to you the mission of recognizing the right paths you must follow in order to correspond boldly and faithfully to the charism paths you must follow in order to correspond boldly and faithfully to the charism you have received. you have received. As you prepare to recall the fundamental stages in the history of As you prepare to recall the fundamental stages in the history of this vast Franciscan Family, I invoke the intercession of the Virgin Mary and Saints this vast Franciscan Family, I invoke the intercession of the Virgin Mary and Saints Francis and Clare of Assisi and I willingly send my Blessing, asking that you please Francis and Clare of Assisi and I willingly send my Blessing, asking that you please continue to pray forcontinue to pray for me.
Rome, from St. John Lateran. November 9, 2023.
Anniversary of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica Cathedral of Rome
(Message read in the basilica of St. John Lateran, Nov. 29, 2023, on the 800th anniversary of the rule approved by Pope Honorious III on November 29, 1223).
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