Maria Voce, who was Chiara Lubich's first successor as leader of the Focolare Movement, introduced the movement's new president to the pope.
MARIA VOCE
“Now I am happy to introduce the new president, to whom I pass the witness. She was chosen by participants of the General Assembly of the Work of Mary. She is Margaret Karram, a Catholic born in Haifa, Israel, to a family of Palestinian origin.”
MARGARET KARRAM
“But Holy Father, let me say one thing. I don't like the word 'president.' I have a desire in my heart right now to tell you, 'I am a daughter of the Church, and I want to serve the Church and everyone.”
The pope seemed at ease with them, and he warned them of the danger of living out their charism rigidly and not adapting to reality.
POPE FRANCIS
“Every charism is creative. It is not a statue in a museum, no. It is creative. It is a question of remaining faithful to the original source, striving to rethink it and express it in dialogue with new social and cultural situations. It is firmly rooted, but the tree grows in dialogue with reality.
He also advised them to maintain a style of dialogue and openness, to avoid self-absorption and self-celebration.
POPE FRANCIS
'Beware of self-centeredness, which always leads to defending the institution to the detriment of individuals, and which can also lead to justifying or covering up forms of abuse.
Self-absorption prevents us from seeing mistakes and shortcomings. It hampers progress, and it prevents an open review of institutional procedures and styles of governance.”
The pope wanted to personally greet each of the participants. He asked them to keep a safe distance between them and spoke to each of them one-on-one.
JMB
Translation: CT
