On the 10th anniversary of Jorge Mario Bergoglio’s election to the papacy, the Minister General of the OFM, Br Massimo Fusarelli, shared a brief reflection on Pope Francis and these ten years of his pontificate.
“The Order of Friars Minor joins in the joy of many on the tenth anniversary of Pope Francis’ pontificate. On 13 March 2013, we were the first to be struck by the bold choice of St Francis’ name. Over these years, we have recognised more and more in the magisterium of Pope Francis’ gestures and words the traces of the Christian vision of the Poverello of Assisi: the centrality of the Gospel, love for the little ones and the poor, fraternity as social friendship in a time of war and inequality, reverence for creation, our common home.
The Minister General with the General Definitory, on the 800th anniversary of the Rule, with “Brother Francis promises obedience and reverence to the Lord Pope Honorius and his canonically elected successors and to the Roman Church” (LR I:2) and remembers Pope Francis in prayer of praise and intercession for his intentions”.
We recall some words from the greeting of Pope Francis on the evening of Wednesday, 13 March 2013, immediately after his election,
“And now, let us begin this journey: Bishop and people. This journey of the Church of Rome, which is the one that presides in charity over all the Churches. A journey of brotherhood, of love, of trust between us. Let us always pray for each other. Let us pray that there may be a great brotherhood for the whole world. I hope that this journey of the Church, which we begin today and in which my Cardinal Vicar, here present, will assist me, will be fruitful for evangelising this beautiful city!”.