After yesterday’s General Audience, Pope Benedict XVI received the participants of the General Assmbly of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Charles Borromeo. The General Assembly had recently elected new Superior General, Fr. Paolo Sottopietra who was also present at the audience.
The Holy Father expressed his joy at Fr. Sottopietra’s presence, while encouraging and all present to continue their that “inspires so many people, so many lay people, men and women, priests and laity, to collaborate in spreading the Gospel and the growth of the Kingdom of God.”
The Pope also commended another well-known member of the order: Bishop Massimo Camisasca of Reggio Emilia-Guastalla. “Among you I have also had the opportunity to get to know Massimo Camisasca; we have talked about different things; I have gotten to know his creativity in art, his ability to see, to interpret the signs of the times, his great gift as a teacher, a priest,” the Holy Father said.
Although Pope Benedict noted that the large number of the Fraternity indicates that there are vocations, the Holy Father also stressed the “need to be open to finding, accompanying, guiding and helping vocations mature.”
“This is the thing for which I thank Don Camisasca, who has been a great educator. And today, education is always important to the growth of the truth, for us to grow in our status as children of God and brothers of Jesus Christ,” the Holy Father emphasized.
Concluding his address, Pope Benedict XVI imparted his blessing on the Fraternity and expressing his hope that “it grow and deepen always, even more in the love of Christ, in the love of men for Christ.”
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