Papal encouragement for Pallottine Fathers

October 10, 2016

Pope Francis told members of the Pallottine order that their founder, St. Vincent Pallotti, had given them “a precious gift of the Holy Spirit” with the founding charism of their order.

“Your founder understood that to be able to live communion with God, it is necessary to put Jesus Christ at the center, as ‘the divine model of the human being,’“ the Pope said. The founder’s instructions help to fill hearts with compassion, he said. That guidance is especially useful today, he added, as “our scenes of violence pass before our eyes: faces without pity, hearts hardened and desolate.”

The Pope went on to remark that St. Vincent Pallotti also had a keen understanding of the fact that all Christians are called to the work of evangelization. “Your founder liked to repeat that the call to the apostolate is not reserved to some, but instead addressed to all, regardless of their state, their condition, their profession, their fortune; everyone can participate.

The Pallottine fathers who met with Pope Francis on October 10 where delegates to the order’s 21st general assembly.

 

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Further information:

• The Pope to the Union of the Catholic Apostolate: the call of the apostolate is addressed to all (Vatican press office)