* * *
Dear brother,
In these days, the diocese of the Immaculate Conception (Inmaculada Concepción) will celebrate its 50thanniversary. I wish, on this occasion, to be close to all of you. I cannot forget the days I spent there during the Clergy Exercises. I remember the faces of the priests and I pray for them.
Now I extend my gaze and widen my heart towards each one of the faithful and unite myself with the celebration and the joy of every one of you. In these fifty years you have walked and have made a path of disciples of Jesus and announcers of the Gospel: disciples and missionaries, so that all in the diocese may have life in abundance.
To walk, to become a disciple and to announce. Three words. «To walk»: You know that I am afraid of settled Christians. They end up like still water. «To become a disciple»: I also am afraid of those who believe that they «know it all», the sufficient. Without knowing, they close their heart to the Lord; they end up centered in themselves. They are the Christians that we make may call «Christians with themselves and for themselves.
When one finds themselves with Jesus, they live the wondrous awe of that encounter and feel the need to look for Him in prayer, in the reading of the Gospels. They feel the need to adore Him, to know Him… and feel the need to announce him. And this is the third word: «to announce», meaning, missionaries, to bring his name, the teachings, and the gestures of Jesus to the brothers. The Christian walks, becomes a disciple and announces. They are not settled, they come out of themselves: they come out of themselves to announce the Good News of Jesus to the brothers.
Dear brothers of the diocese of Concepción, may the great celebration of these 50 years be long-lasting in your lives. That, like our Mother, you may come out of yourselves to adore as well as to announce. Be unsettled because the love of Jesus is worth it. I wish you all a happy 50thanniversary and, please, I ask that you pray for me. May Jesus bless you and the Holy Virgin care for you.
Affectionately yours,
Francis
[Translation by Junno Arocho Esteves]
