Members of the Pauline Family greeted Pope Francis with applause as he walked into the Clementine Hall for their audience.
Fr. Valdir José de Castro, the Superior General, expressed the religious community's gratitude for the opportunity to celebrate such an important occasion with the Pope.
FR. VALDIR JOSÉ DE CASTRO
Superior General, Pauline Family
“Thank you for this meeting granted to us, the Pauline Family, to commemorate 50 years since our founder, Giacomo Alberione, went to heaven.”
Pope Francis remembered Blessed Giacomo Alberione's ability to use new technologies to evangelize, and encouraged the Pauline Family to do the same.
POPE FRANCIS
'Following his example, and through his intercession, you too, make means of communication your “pulpit,” so that, as he himself said, you can proclaim Jesus Christ to people of our time with the means of our time.'
The Pope also reiterated what Blessed Giacomo Alberione used to say: that the true founder of their religious community was St. Paul the Apostle. The Pope encouraged the men and women present to imitate St. Paul's passion for communicating the Gospel.
Pope Francis also thanked the different congregations and institutes that make up the Pauline Family for their unique contributions to the life of the Church around the world.
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