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MESSAGE OF JOHN PAUL II
 TO CARDINAL SODANO 
FOR THE OPENING OF 
COMMUNION AND LIBERATION MOVEMENT
INTERNATIONAL CENTRE IN ROME

 


To my Venerable Brother Cardinal Angelo Sodano 
Secretary of State

Since the beginning of my Pontificate I have devoted special attention to new lay groups, particularly to movements, so that, under the enlightened and wise guidance of their Pastors, they might offer a providential resource of missionary energy in the Church and in the different cultural, social and environmental situations in which modern man lives and expresses himself. Among these new groups, the Lord raised up Communion and Liberation which, fulfilling a long-cherished desire of Mons. Luigi Guissani, is today inaugurating its own International Centre in Rome, entrusted to the responsible leadership of Prof. Jesús Carrascosa and his wife, Mrs Juana Echarri.

In this way, the Communion and Liberation Movement, which was born in Milan, developed first in Lombardy, then spread throughout Italy and is now present on every continent, can give a stable form to its ecclesial mission. The Eternal City, where the See of Peter is located, does in fact hold a special meaning for every community and movement:  in Rome there are the generalates of many religious institutes, the headquarters of a considerable number of cultural, ecclesiastical and civil institutions and the administrative centres of other international lay communities and groups. With the inauguration of this centre, the Communion and Liberation Movement will thus find itself in the beating heart of Christianity, to offer its service to the See of Peter and to the entire Church with renewed commitment.

I entrust to the maternal protection of Mary, Mother of the Church, the work that is beginning today, and I sincerely send you, venerable Brother, who will preside over the solemn inaugural ceremony, to those responsible for the Communion and Liberation Movement and to everyone present a special Apostolic Blessing.

From the Vatican, 17 October 2000.

© Copyright 2000 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana

 



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