VOLUME XLVI ISSUE 197

Fraternitas
OFM international news

Special Edition

MARCH 2013

and a tibute to Pope Benedict XVI

Francis

Pope

CONTENT
2 3 4 4 Pope Benedict XVI: A Biography Pope Benedicts & the OFM The Minister General thanks the Holy Father Benedict XVI The Minister General thanks the Holy Father Benedict XVI as President of the USG Pope Benedicts final message The OFM Cardinals present at the conclave
Pope Francis: A biography

Pope Benedict XVI

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W W W . O F M . O R G

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7  Pope Francis: His First Greeting 7  Pope Francis: In Pictures 8 9 9 10 11 11 12 Pope Francis: The First Homily Letter from the Minister General Fr. Jos R. Carballo ofm, to Pope Francis Letter from the President of USG, Fr. Jos R. Carballo OFM to Pope Francis Pope Francis: First Angelus With you, the Church returns simply as in La Verna Dont be afraid of tenderness Why francis?

A biography
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI, was born at Marktl am Inn, Diocese of Passau (Germany) on 16 April 1927 (Holy Saturday) and was baptised on the same day. He received his priestly ordination on 29 June 1951. In 1953 he obtained his doctorate in theology with a thesis entitled People and House of God in St Augustines Doctrine of the Church. Four years later, under the direction of the renowned professor of fundamental theology Gottlieb Shngen, he qualified for University teaching with a dissertation on: The Theology of History in St Bonaventure. From 1962 to 1965 he made a notable contribution to Vatican II as an expert; being present at the Council as theological advisor of Cardinal Joseph Frings, Archbishop of Cologne. On 25 March 1977 Pope Paul VI named him Archbishop of Munich and Freising. On 28 May of the same year he received episcopal ordination. Paul VI made him a Cardinal with the priestly title of Santa Maria Consolatrice al Tiburtino, during the Consistory of 27 June of the same year. John Paul II named him Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and President of the Pontifical Biblical Commission and of the International Theological Commission on 25 November 1981. He was President of the Preparatory Commission for the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which after six years of work (1986-1992) presented the new Catechism to the Holy Father.

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On the cover: Pope Francis Editor/Setting: Fr. Joseph Magro OFM eMail: comgen@ofm.org Check www.ofm.org for updates and videos

His many publications are spread out over a number of years and constitute a point of reference for many people specially for those interested in entering deeper into the study of theology.

POPE BENEDICT AND THE OFM

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12.05.2007 - Pope in Brasil

18.04.2009 - Chapter of Mats

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09.05.2009 - Pope on Mount Nebo

24.10.2010 - Synod of Bishops of the Middle East

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16.12.2010 - Audience with the Pope

27.10.2011 - Spirit of Assisi

12.10.2012 - Synod of Bishops

02.02.2013- Day of Consecrated Life

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THANK YOU LETTERS

The Minister General Thanks the Holy Father Benedict XVI
W W W . O F M . O R G

full of wisdom, clarity, and evangelical firmness. Thank you for bringing us closer to Christ through His word both simple and profound at once, and through your writings, always timely and clear. Thank you for your watchful gaze over the world and society, as shown by your encyclicals and your many speeches. Thank you for your love for the Church, which has led you to seek purification and ask forgiveness for the sin of her members. Thank you for your love of consecrated life which you have shown on many occasions, especially for presiding over the World Day of Consecrated Life on February 2. Thank you for the gesture of your resignation. We received it with both sadness and admiration. Early in your pontificate, you told us that you considered yourself a simple and humble worker in the vineyard of the Lord. If humility is the measure of the greatness of a person, then the public confession you made on February 11 confirmed the truth of those words and your greatness and holiness. Thank you for teaching us from the cathedra of life that authority in the Church is service. Thank you for the beautiful gift that leaves us with the Year of Faith. Thank you, Holy Father, for all that.

In a message sent to the Whole Order the Minister General fr. Jos Rodriguez Carballo OFM, thanked the Holy Father. In his message said that although it caused him great sadness, he respected the decision with much admiration and saw humanity, freedom and the responsibility involved. He continued to thank the Holy Father on behalf of the whole Order by mentioning the various meetings that the Order had with Him. These included the Holy Land, the various Synods, Assisi, Conferences and others. On the teachings the Minister continued: On many other occasions Benedict XVI has shown his love for the Franciscans and knowledge of our tradition. During these years, he left us with many texts that deserve to reread and meditated upon carefully. Besides numerous references he made several times to our way of life, he left us with his catechesis on St. Francis, St. Clare, St. Anthony, St. Bonaventure, Blessed John Duns Scotus and others of the Franciscan School. For all this Franciscan teachings we say, thank you, Your Holiness. The Minister finished his letter by thanking the Holy Father, and describing the end of the pontificate as a gesture that he consider: prophetic and courageous, the fruit of prayer, done with great clarity, humility and love for the Church Thank you for confirming us in the faith through your Magisterium, so
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The Minister General Thanks the Holy Father Benedict XVI as President of the USG
The Minister General fr. Jos Rodriguez Carballo OFM as President of the Unione dei Superiori Generali send a thank you message to the holy father to thank him for the love he had for the Consecrated Life. In this serious moment, for you and for us, how I would like you to feel the closeness of all Consecrated Persons, which I have the honor to represent, and that, somehow, I bring before your eyes. We are close to you, our dear Holy Father! Experience the union of our hearts as children who, with devotion, send their love and deep gratitude! Yes, we love you and we want to tell you that our filial affection will accompany you day by day in your future prayer-service for the benefit of all. Thank you, especially, for your love for Consecrated Life, which you shown on countless occasions; for having shaken us several times, bringing us to continuously recall our first love with which the Lord has called us and made us his own.

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TOWARDS THE CONCLAVE

Pope Benedicts final message The OFM Cardinals present at the conclave
Cardinal Carlos Amigo Vallejo, O.F.M., Archbishop emeritus of Seville (Spain), was born in Medina de Roseco, Valladolid, Spain, on 23 August 1934. Prof. Sol: 27.12.1957. Created and proclaimed Cardinal by the Bl. John Paul II in the Consistory of 21 October 2003, of the Title of S. Maria in Monserrato degli Spagnoli. Cardinal Cludio Hummes, O.F.M., The Pope expressed his heartfelt thanks to the faithful, stating that through their presence, he could see that the Church is alive. Reminiscing on the start of his pontificate, Pope Benedict said that he felt great trust knowing that the truth of the Gospel is the strength of the Church. This is my trust, this is my joy, the Pope said. The Holy Father compared the moments of his pontificate to the experience of St. Peter and the Apostles in the boat on the Sea of Galilee, stating that while the Lord had given many days of sunshine and gentle breeze, there were also times when the water was rough and the wind against us, as in the whole history of the Church, and the Lord seemed to sleep. But I always knew that the Lord is in the boat, and I always knew that the boat of the Church is not mine, not ours, but it is His. And He will not let her sink, it is He who leads it, certainly also through the men he has chosen, because so He has willed it. This was and is a certainty, that nothing can obscure. And that is why today my heart is filled with gratitude to God because He has never left me or the Church without His consolation, His light, His love, the Holy Father said. (VIS) Prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Clergy, Archbishop emeritus of So Paulo, Brazil, was born on 8 August 1934 in Montenegro, Brazil. Prof. Sol: 02.02.1956. Created and proclaimed Cardinal by the Bl. John Paul II in the Consistory of 21 February 2001, of the Title of S. Antonio da Padova in Via Merulana Cardinal Wilfrid Fox Napier, O.F.M., Archbishop of Durban, South Africa, Apostolic Administrator sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of Umzimkulu, was born on 8 March 1941 in Swartberg, South Africa. Prof. Sol: 04.10.1964.. Created and proclaimed Cardinal by the Bl. John Paul II in the consistory of 21 February 2001, of the Title of S. Francesco dAssisi in Acilia.

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POPE FRANCIS

W W W . O F M . O R G

Pope Francis: A biography Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, S.J., Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Ordinary for Eastern-rite faithful in Argentina who lack an Ordinary of their own rite, was born on 17 December 1936 in Buenos Aires. He studied as and holds a degree as a chemical technician, but then chose the priesthood and entered the seminary of Villa Devoto. On 11 March 1958 he moved to the novitiate of the Company of Jesus where he finished studies in the humanities in Chile. In 1963, on returning to Buenos Aires, he obtained a degree in philosophy at the St. Joseph major seminary of San Miguel. Between 1964 and 1965 he taught literature and psychology at the Immacolata College in Santa Fe and then in 1966 he taught the same subjects at the University of El Salvador, in Buenos Aires. From 1967 to 1970 he studied theology at the St. Joseph major seminary of San Miguel where he obtained a degree. On 13 December 1969 he was ordained a priest. From 1970 to 1971 he completed the third probation at Alcala de Henares, Spain, and on 22 April 1973, pronounced his perpetual vows. He was novice master at Villa Varilari in San Miguel from 1972 to 1973, where he also taught theology. On 31 July 1973 he was elected as Provincial for Argentina, a role he served as for six years. From 1980 to 1986 he was rector of the Philosophical and Theological Faculty of San Miguel as well as pastor of the Patriarca San Jose parish in the Diocese of San Miguel. In March of 1986 he went to Germany to finish his doctoral
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thesis. The superiors then sent him to the University of El Salvador and then to Cordoba where he served as a confessor and spiritual director. On 20 May 1992, John Paul II appointed him titular Bishop of Auca and Auxiliary of Buenos Aires, He received episcopal consecration in the Cathedral of Buenos Aires from Cardinal Antonio Quarracino, Apostolic Nunzio Ubaldo Calabresi, and Bishop Emilio Ognenovich. of Mercedes-Lujan on 27 June of that year. On 3 June 1997 he was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Buenos Aires and succeeded Cardinal Antonio Quarracino on 28 February 1998. He was Adjunct Relator General of the 10th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, October 2001. He served as President of the Bishops Conference of Argentina from 8 November 2005 until 8 November 2011. He was created and proclaimed Cardinal by Blessed John Paul II in the consistory of 21 February 2001, of the Title of S. Roberto Bellarmino (St. Robert Bellarmine). He was a member of: The Congregations for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments; for the Clergy; and for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life; the Pontifical Council for the Family; and the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.

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THE ELECTION
Pope Francis: HIS FIRST GREETING

in pictures

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Dear brothers and sisters, Good evening. You know that the duty of the Conclave was to give Rome a bishop. It seems that my brother cardinals picked him from almost the ends of the earth. But here we are! I thank you for the warm welcome. The diocesan community of Rome has its bishop. Thank you! First and foremost I would like to say a prayer for our Bishop Emeritus Benedict XVI. Let us pray together for him, that the Lord bless him and the Virgin keep him. ... ... ... And now let us begin this journey, bishop and people, this journey of the Church of Rome, which is the one that leads all the churches in charity. A journey of fraternity, of trust between us. Let us always pray for one another. Let us pray for the world so that this might be a great brotherhood. I hope that this journey of the Church that we begin today, and in which my Cardinal Vicar here present will assist me, will be fruitful for the evangelization of this beautiful city. Now I would like to impart the blessing, but first, first I ask a favor of you. Before the bishop blesses the people, I ask that you pray to the Lord that He bless me: the prayer of the people asking a blessing for their bishop. Let us pray in silence, this your prayer for me. Now I will impart the blessing to you and all the world, to all men and women of good will. After imparting the apostolic blessing Pope Francis added: Brothers and sisters, I take my leave. Thank you for your warm welcome. Tomorrow Im going to pray to the Virgin, that she will safeguard all of Rome. Good night and rest well.
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POPE FRANCIS: THE FIRST HOMILY

TO WALK, TO BUILD, TO WITNESS, ALWAYS WITH THE CROSS OF CHRIST
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In his first homily as Pope, and speaking in Italian without a text, Francis noted that the three readings have something in common: Movement. In the first reading the movement is the journey; in the second the movement is the building of the Church; in the Gospel the movement is in the witness. To walk, to build, to witness. The pontiff recalled that the first thing God said to Abraham was: Walk in my presence and be blameless. Our life is a path. When we stop walking there is something that isnt right. To walk always in the presence of the Lord, in the light of the Lord, seeking to live the blamelessness that God asks of Abraham in His promise. To build, he continued, to construct the Church. This means stones. Stones are solid but these are living stones, stones that are anointed by the Holy Spirit. To build the Church, the Bride of Christ, on the cornerstone that is the Lord himself. To witness We can walk when we want to, we can build many things, but if we do not witness to Jesus Christ then it doesnt matter. We might become a philanthropic NGO but we wouldnt be the Church, the Bride of the Lord. When we dont go forward we stop...we go backwards. When we dont build on rock, what happens? The same thing that happens to children when they build sandcastles at the beach. They wind
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up falling down because they have no solidity. Then, citing Leon Bloy, the Holy Father affirmed: Whoever does not pray to God, prays to the devil because when we dont witness to Jesus Christ, we witness to the worldliness of the devil. To walk, to build, to witness. But this is not so easy because when we walk, when we build, when we witness, at times there are upsets, there are movements that arent proper to the journey. They are movements that pull us back. In the Gospel, the Pope continued, even Peter who confessed Jesus as Christ, says to Him: You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God. I will follow you but lets not talk about the Cross. That doesnt have anything to do with it. Ill follow you, without the Cross. But, when we walk without the Cross, when we build without the Cross, when we profess a Christ without the Cross we arent disciples of the Lord. We are worldly, we are bishops, priests, cardinals, popes, but not disciples of the Lord.

And I wish that all of us, after these grace-filled days, might have the courage, yes, the courage to walk in the Lords presence with the Cross of the Lord, to build the Church on the blood of the Lord that is poured out on the Cross and to witness to the sole glory: to the crucified Christ. And thus the Church will move forward. I wish for us all that the Holy Spirit, through the intercession of Mary, our Mother, grant us this grace: to walk, to build, and to witness to Jesus Christ. After the homily, the Prayers of the Faithful prayed for the new pontiff and also for His Holiness Benedict XVI, that he may serve the Church while hidden to the world, in a life dedicated to prayer and meditation. The also prayed that national leaders not act with force or for personal interest, not in tyranny over persons, but conscious that every power comes from God. Finally, they recalled those who are suffering and those who are lost in the struggles of life. That Christ, the supreme Shepherd, may restore and console them and crown them with glory. (VIS)

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LETTERS
LETTER FROM THE MINISTER GENERAL FR. JOS R. CARBALLO OFM, TO POPE FRANCIS
Most Holy Father, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord is the cry of joy of those who waited in prayer for the Lord to give his Church a new Shepherd. For our Pope Francis we say then, Praised be you, my Lord. This is the prayer of gratitude that we, the sons of St. Francis around the world are raising with joy after receiving the news of your election as both Bishop of Rome and Successor of the Apostle Peter. Your Holiness, even before knowing the news of whom the Lord had chosen and what his name would be, we already loved and prayed for you. Then, when we heard your name, for the many who already knew you, we leaped for joy. Our joy was furthered intensified when we came to know the choice of your name as Pope Francis. On behalf of all the Friars Minor, Your Holiness, I say, Congratulations!The Lord has set his eyes on you and the Cardinals recognized the gaze of the Most High and chose you. Thank you, Your Holiness, for choosing the name of Francis, which is a meaningful name for the world, the Church, and certainly for all the Franciscans. Your Holiness, with filial affection and reverence, on behalf of all those who have embraced the way of life handed down to us by St. Francis today, with deep emotion, I promise obedience and reverence to the Lord Pope Francis (Cfr. Regula Bollata 2). You can count on us, Your Holiness, on our love as sons. You can count also on our sincere obedience, our constant prayer, and sincere cooperation. You can also rely on the Franciscan Contemplative Sisters, both the Poor Clares and the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, who from their monasteries raise their prayers to the Father of Mercies for your ministry at the service of the universal Church. While I ask St. Francis to intercede for your person, I implore your apostolic blessing for me, for my Franciscan brothers, and all the Poor Clares and Franciscan Conceptionist Sisters. From your most devoted son in both the Lord and St. Francis

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT OF USG, FR. JOS R. CARBALLO OFM TO POPE FRANCESCO
Your Holiness, Both Religious and Consecrated life sings gratefully to the Lord on hearing of your election as Father and Pastor of the universal Church. In the days leading up to your election, all Religious and Consecrated of the entire world have prayed earnestly to the Lord to give us a Shepherd after his own heart. Today in St. Peters Square we were hundreds and hundreds of Religious and Consecrated Persons of all ages, races, and cultures, awaiting the good news: Habemus Papam. At the sound of your name, hearing your words, and seeing the gestures that accompanied your first appearance in public, we were filled with joy, hope and gladness. Your Holiness, count on both Religious and Consecrated life. You know it well, because your are one of us. You love it, for it is your life as well. You know our weaknesses and possibilities. Help us, Most Holy Father, with your Magisterium to live out our vocation and mission in the Church and the world, in fidelity to Christ, to the Gospel, to our own charisms, and the people of today. Teach us, Holy Father, to live the Gospel with simplicity and radicalness as Saint Francis lived it, because in this way we may also rebuild the church, as the Little Poor Man of Assisi did. On behalf of all the Religious and Consecrated Persons, as President of the Union of Superiors General, I greet you, and, if I am allowed, embrace you with filial and devoted affection. Long is the way that you must journey, which is not always easy. Yet, you are not alone. We will follow you with love and obedience. As I assure of our humble and trusting prayer, on behalf of all Religious and Consecrated Persons, I kindly ask you, Holy Father, to impart your Apostolic Blessing. Your most devoted son in Christ Jesus.
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POPE FRANCIS: FIRST ANGELUS

IF GOD DIDNT FORGIVE EVERYONE, THE WORLD WOULD NOT EXIST.
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In this Fifth Sunday of Lent, the Gospel presents us with the story of the adulterous woman whom Jesus saves from being condemned to death. It captures Jesus attitude: we do not hear words of contempt, we do not hear words of condemnation, but only words of love, of mercy, that invite us to conversion. Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more! Well, brothers and sisters! Gods face is that of a merciful father who is always patient. Have you thought about Gods patience, the patience that He has with each of us? That is His mercy. He always has patience, is always patient with us, understanding us, awaiting us, never tiring of forgiving us if we know how to return to him with a contrite heart. That is beautiful, [this aspect of mercy]. I remember when, just after I was made bishop, in 1992, the Madonna of Fatima came to Buenos Aires and a large Mass for the sick was celebrated. I went to hear confessions at that Mass. Near the end of the Mass I got up because I had to administer a confirmation. An over 80-year-old woman
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came up to me, humbly, very humbly. I asked her: Nonna [grandmother] because thats how we address our elderlyNonna, you want to confess? Yes, she told me. But if you havent sinned... And she said to me: We have all sinned... But perhaps the Lord will not forgive you... The Lord forgives everyone, she told me, with certainy. But how do you know that, maam? If the Lord didnt forgive everyone, the world would not exist. I wanted to ask her: Tell me, have you studied at the Gregorian [Pontifical University]?, because that is the wisdom that the Holy Spirit gives: the inner wisdom of Gods mercy. Let us not forget this word: God never tires of forgiving us, never! So, Father, what is the problem? Well, the problem is that we get tired, we dont want to, we get tired of asking forgiveness. Let us never get tired. Let us never get tired. He is the loving Father who always forgives, who has that heart of mercy for all of us. And let us also learn to be merciful with everyone. (VIS)

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message Homily
With you, the Church returns simply as in La Verna
The March 17, 2013 in addressing Papa Francesco for a greeting at the end of the Mass celebrated in the parish of St. Anna, the Archpriest of St. Peters Basilica, Cardinal Angelo Comastri revealed a background of the Conclave just finished: Holy Father during these days we have heard the wind of Pentecost which has shook the walls of our soul. When, I looked at the clock last Wednesday at 19.05, you said that you will be called Francis; you should have seen the faces of the Cardinals. For two thousand years it has never happened that a Pope should want to be called Francis! Upon hearing it, one of the Cardinals asked, What did he say!? Francis, Francis!? And they spread the word among themselves, saying, We a Pope Francis. I personally had an episode come to mind when John Paul II went to La Verna on September 17, 1993, where I was bishop in Tuscany at the time. All the bishops of Tuscany went to greet him. In the large refectory of La Verna after lunch, while John Paul II was speaking with the brothers and bishops, he said here at both La Verna and Assisi, Franciscanism was born and in a certain way Christianity too by rediscovering the simplicity and fervor of the beginnings. Hence, this is also whats happening, Holy Father; you are rediscovering he simplicity and fervor of the origins. Later, on Election Day, when you looked out for the first time from the balcony to greet the people, we were on the side balconies. The speakers were facing the square so that we did not see anything or hear anything. Then we saw people all in silence praying. We did not realize that you had invited them to pray, so we were wondering what had happened that everyone should be so suddenly quiet! When I left, I asked the first person I came across. I think it was a worker from the TV Centre, I asked him, Do you know what happened? He replied, The Pope asked the people to pray for him and so he bowed to receive the prayers of the people. He added, You know that I smelt the scent of Bethlehem, the scent of the Gospel and two tears fell from his eyes. I also was easily moved. Holy Father, the world is waiting for the scent of Bethlehem and the scent of the Gospel. Fill the Church, then, with the fragrance of the Gospel which is none other than the scent of Jesus and we will follow right behind you. Thank you!

DONT BE AFRAID OF TENDERNESS

It is the Mass for the Solemnity of St. Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church. Concelebrating are all the cardinals present in Rome, joined by six Patriarchs and Major Eastern Rite Archbishops; Fr. Jose Rodriguez Carballo, O.F.M., superior general of the Order of Friars Minor; and Fr. Adolfo Nicolas Pachon, S.J., superior general of the Society of Jesus. In total they will be around 180 concelebrating with Pope Francis. The Gospel, the culminating moment of the Liturgy of the Word is proclaimed in Greek, in deference to the Eastern Rite. Afterwards, Pope Francis gives his homily in Italian. The square is silent and the Holy Father is calm. It seems like he has always been Pope, someone remarks as soon as they hear his first words. The text was given to journalists beforehand with the warning, Be attentive! This Pope loves to improvise! But in this moment he stuck with the prepared text. The Pope speaks of St. Joseph, the example he gives us, of his vocation, his fidelity, his availability, of how he knew how to listen to God, of how he was attentive to everything going on around him. This is the preamble of his homily, then he arrives at its heart, connecting St. Josephs vocation to that of us all, each of us, and to the Popes own vocation as well. He concludes with a resounding entreaty: our responsibility to protect with tenderness, to not destroy what we have received. From creation to ourselves and those around us, and especially the poorest. We must not be afraid of goodness or even tenderness! Pope Francis exhorted. We are all called so that the star of hope will shine brightly. Let us protect with love all that God has given us! So ended the homily of the new Bishop of Rome, the homily of the Mass inaugurating his pontificate. (VIS)
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WHY FRANCIS?
On March 16, Papa Francis received in the Paul VI Hall journalists accredited for the conclave

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At the election I had the archbishop emeritus of Sao Paulo next to me. He is also prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Clergy, Cardinal Claudio Hummes [O.F.M.]: a dear, dear friend. When things were getting a little dangerous, he comforted me. And then, when the votes reached the two-thirds, there was the usual applause because the Pope had been elected. He hugged me and said: Do not forget the poor. And that word stuck here; the poor, the poor. Then, immediately in relation to the poor I thought of Francis of Assisi. Then I thought of war, while the voting continued, until all the votes [were counted]. And so the name came to my heart:: Francis of Assisi. For me he is the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who love and safeguards Creation. In this moment when our relationship with Creation is not so goodright?He is the man who gives us this spirit of peace, the poor man Oh, how I wish for a Church that is poor and for the poor!