ROME - 14 March 2008 - 109 words
Pope's
message on death of Chiara Lubich
The Holy Father has sent a telegram to Fr
Oreste Basso, co-president of the Focolari Movement, for the death
at the age of 88 of the movement's founder Chiara Lubich. The
text of the telegram is given below.
"With deep emotion I learned the news of the pious death
of Ms Chiara Lubich, which came at the end of a long and fruitful
life marked by her tireless love for the abandoned Jesus. At this
moment of painful separation I remain affectionately and spiritually
close to her relatives and to the entire Work of Mary - the Focolari
Movement which began with her - and to those who appreciated her
constant commitment for communion in the Church, for ecumenical
dialogue and for fraternity among all peoples. I thank the Lord
for the witness of her life, spent in listening to the needs of
modern man in complete faithfulness to the Church and to the Pope.
And, as I commend her soul to divine goodness that she may be
welcomed in the bosom of the Father, I hope that those who knew
and met her, admiring the wonders that God achieved through her
missionary ardour, may follow her footsteps and keep her charism
alive. With such sentiments, I invoke the maternal intercession
of Mary and willingly impart my apostolic blessing to everyone".VIS
Source: VIS
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