Living Hope Newsletter – February 2016

Fr. Rosendo Urrabazo meeting Pope Francis and shaking hands in a formal setting. Pope Francis on the right is wearing traditional papal attire, while Fr. Rosendo Urrabazo on the left is dressed in clerical clothing. Other individuals are visible in the background with large curtains behind them.

Adore, Walk, and Accompany

The Claretians enjoyed two momentous gatherings with Pope Francis this past fall, one in Rome and the second here in the United States. Both encounters gave the Claretians a first-hand experience of this Pope’s remarkable embrace as the shepherd of the Church—expressed in Pope Francis’ hallmark, and beloved, eloquence.

In Rome last September, when the Claretians elected their new Superior General leader and the Superior Council members who serve the worldwide congregation together from Rome, the Pope received the nearly 100 Claretians who gathered there for the election event. The audience took place in the beautiful Consistorio Hall at the Vatican, where the outgoing Superior General Josep Abella, C.M.F., and the new Father General Mathew Vattamattam, C.M.F., personally greeted the Holy Father.

A large group of clergy members seated in an ornate room with intricate artwork on the walls and ceiling. The central figure is a high-ranking religious leader, possibly the Pope, surrounded by other clergy members.

Pope Francis spoke for about 30 minutes with the Claretians, who he has known for some time from his prior ministry in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Claretians lead many ministries in Argentina, including a publishing house that the Pope mentioned with affection because they have published his books.

The Pope delivered his remarks with warmth and familiarity, and a clear call to action. “So I came to tell you this: Adore. Walk. And accompany,” he said. He encouraged the Claretians to grow in adoration prayer, to spend time with God “without asking, without thanking, even without praising—only adoring, only worshipping with the prostrate soul.”

A historic building serves as the backdrop for a busy Philly street adorned with multiple banners welcoming Pope Francis. The banners feature images of Pope Francis and messages like 'Have the courage to be truly happy' and 'Welcome Pope Francis.' Street signs include instructions not to block an area called 'The Box' and indicate a one-way direction.

In asking the Claretians to “walk,” the Pope stressed not sitting still: “To walk is to open frontiers, to go out, to open up doors, to look for ways. Walk—do not just sit!” And in walking, he said, we must not walk alone. “Accompany . . . accompany others in the moments of joy, the happiness of marriages, of families. Accompany them during the hard times, moments of crosses, moments of sin,” he said.

The Claretians are deeply gratified by their audience with Pope Francis, a moment that was further expanded when they witnessed the Pope in Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia. U.S. Claretian seminarians and the U.S. Claretian Vocation Office attended the event along with 20,000 national and international attendees.