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This morning, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father Leo XIV received in audience the participants in the General Assembly of the Opera di Maria - Focolare Movement, taking place from 1 to 21 March 2026 at the Mariapoli Centre in Castel Gandolfo, Rome.

The following is the address delivered by the Pope to those present at the meeting:

 

Address of the Holy Father

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Peace be with you!

I am pleased to meet you this afternoon, after you have taken part in the General Assembly of the Focolare Movement. I greet the President, Margaret Karram, who has just been re-elected for a second term, and the new Co-President, Fr. Roberto Eulogio Almada. May the Lord bless your service!

You have all been attracted by the charism of the Servant of God Chiara Lubich, which has shaped your personal existence and the style of your community life. Every charism in the Church expresses an aspect of the Gospel that the Holy Spirit brings to the fore in a given historical period, for the good of the Church herself and for the good of the entire world. For you, this is the message of unity: unity among human beings, which is the fruit and reflection of Christ’s unity with the Father: “That they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me and I in thee” ( Jn 17:21). You live this spirit of unity first and foremost amongst yourselves, and you bear witness to it everywhere as a new possibility for fraternal, reconciled and joyful life amongst people of different ages, cultures, languages and religious beliefs. It is a seed, simple yet powerful, which attracts thousands of men and women, inspires vocations, generates a drive for evangelization, but also social, cultural, artistic and economic works, which are a leaven for ecumenical and interreligious dialogue. There is a great need for this leaven of unity today, because the poison of division and conflict tends to contaminate hearts and social relationships, and must be countered with the Gospel witness of unity, dialogue, forgiveness, and peace. Through you too, God has prepared, over the past decades, a great people of peace, who at this very moment in history are called to act as a counterweight and a bulwark against so many sowers of hatred who are dragging humanity back to forms of barbarism and violence.

In addition to this important witness of unity and peace, you, dear friends, have been entrusted with the responsibility to keep alive the charism of your Movement in the post-foundational phase, a phase that does not end with the first generational transition after the passing of the founder, but extends beyond it. At this time, you are called to discern together which aspects of your communal life and your apostolate are essential, and must therefore be maintained, and which, on the other hand, are tools and practices that, although long in use, are not essential to the charism, or have presented problematic aspects and should therefore be abandoned.

This phase also demands strong commitment to transparency on the part of those who hold roles of responsibility at all levels. Indeed, transparency is on the one hand a prerequisite for credibility and on the other is required because the charism is a gift of the Holy Spirit for which all members are responsible. They therefore have the right and the duty to feel that they are partners in the Work to which they have committed themselves with total dedication. Remember, too, that the involvement of members is always an added value: it stimulates growth, both of individuals and of the Work, brings out the latent resources and potential of each person, fosters a sense of responsibility and promotes the contribution of all.

The responsibility for common discernment, entrusted to you all, also encompasses the way in which the charism of unity must be translated into styles of community life that allow the beauty of the Gospel’s newness to shine forth and, at the same time, respect the freedom and conscience of individuals, valuing the gifts and uniqueness of each person. We can reflect on the fact that Jesus, in His priestly prayer, after saying “that they may all be one”, added “even as thou art in me and I in thee” ( Jn 17:21), thus relating the unity among the disciples to a higher unity, that between the Father and the Son. This means that the unity you endeavour to live and bear witness to is achieved primarily “in God”, in the fulfilment of His holy will, and as a consequence in the shared commitment of communion and community life, sustained and guided by those entrusted with this service. Unity is a gift and, at the same time, a task and a call addressed to each one of us. Everyone is called to discern God’s will and how the truth of the Gospel can be realized in the various situations of community or apostolic life. And everyone on this path of discernment must exercise fraternity, sincerity, frankness and above all humility, freedom from oneself and from one’s own point of view. The unity of all in God is an evangelical sign that is a prophetic force for the world.

Unity, then, must not be understood as uniformity of thought, opinion and lifestyle; indeed, this could lead to a devaluation of one’s own convictions, to the detriment of personal freedom and of listening to one’s own conscience. Chiara Lubich affirmed that the premise of every rule is charity (cf. Preface to the Statutes). It is therefore necessary that unity be constantly nourished and sustained by mutual charity, which demands magnanimity, benevolence and respect; that charity that is not boastful, is not proud, does not seek its own interests, nor keep a record of wrongs, but rejoices only in the truth (cf. 1 Cor 13:4–6).

Dear friends, let us thank the Lord together for the great spiritual family that was born from the charism of Chiara Lubich. For the young people present in your groups, who see with clear eyes the beauty of. the call to be instruments of unity and of peace in the world. For families, who have been renewed and strengthened by the presence of Jesus in the midst of their family life. For the bishops, priests and consecrated men and women who have seen the gift of their ministry and their religious life renewed through contact with your Movement and your spirituality. For the many Focolare members who, often with heroic dedication, continue to live a life of prayer, work, dialogue and evangelization throughout the world, following the model of apostolic life of the first generations of Christians. And let us give thanks for the countless fruits of holiness, known and unknown, which the return to the Gospel, promoted by you, has brought to the Church throughout these years.

I encourage you to continue on your journey and I bless you wholeheartedly, invoking the intercession of the Virgin Mary upon you all, that she may protect you and always accompany you with her maternal help. Thank you!

I have heard that you like to sing: so, let’s sing together the prayer that Jesus taught us: “ Pater noster…”

[Blessing]

Thank you! Best wishes.

On  Tuesday 24 March 2026 , at  11.30 , a press conference will be held at the Holy See Press Office, Via della Conciliazione 54, to  present the updated version of the document of the Pontifical Academy for Life “The Prospect of Xenotransplantation: Scientific Aspects and Ethical Considerations” .

The speakers will be:

-  Msgr. Renzo Pegoraro , president of the Pontifical Academy for Life;

-  Professor Daniel J. Hurst , PhD, ThM, MDiv, Msc (xenotransplantologist, ethicist), Department of Medical Education and Scholarship Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine – Stratford, United States of America;

-  Dr. Monica Consolandi , researcher, Bruno Kessler Foundation, Trento;

-  Professor Emanuele Cozzi , MD, PhD, lecturer in the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences and Public Health, head of the Department of Transplant Immunology of Padua University Hospital.

The press conference will be livestreamed in the original language on the  Vatican News  YouTube channel, at  https://www.youtube.com/c/VaticanNews .

Remote participation

Journalists and media operators who wish to participate in the press conference remotely must apply, no later than two hours before the event, via the Holy See Press Office online accreditation system, at  https://press.vatican.va/accreditamenti , selecting the event:  CS Presentazione Documento Pontificia Accademia per la Vita - Xenotrapianti.

During the request phase, select the option “Sì”, in the box “Partecipazione da remoto”.

Journalists and media operators who are admitted will receive confirmation of participation via the online accreditation system and, at the same time, the link to access the virtual platform in order to participate actively in the press conference, with the possibility to ask questions.

Participation in person

Journalists and media operators who wish to participate in the press conference in person must apply, no later than 24 hours before the event, via the Holy See Press Office online accreditation system, at  https://press.vatican.va/accreditamenti , selecting the event:  CS Presentazione Documento Pontificia Accademia per la Vita - Xenotrapianti.

Journalists and media operators who are admitted will receive confirmation of participation via the online accreditation system.

Simultaneous translation

It is possible to access the simultaneous translation channels in order to listen to the press conference in  Italian  and  English , both by connecting to the respective  Vatican News  linguistic channels and by using the virtual participation platform indicated in the paragraph “Remote participation”.

Simultaneous translation is also available to those present in the Holy See Press Office.

* * *

Journalists and media operators accredited for the press conference are advised to arrive 30 minutes before the start time.

Appointment of coadjutor apostolic vicar of Gambella, Ethiopia

The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Hailemariam Medhin Tesfay, S.D.B., as coadjutor apostolic vicar of Gambella, Ethiopia.

Curriculum vitae

Msgr. Hailemariam Medhin Tesfay, S.D.B., was born on 1 October 1973 in Alitena, Ethiopia, to Medhin Tesfay and Amlesu Weldeselassie. After entering the novitiate of the Salesian Society of Saint John Bosco in Gotera, Addis Ababa, he gave his perpetual vows in 2002 in Addis Ababa.

He was ordained a priest on 4 May 2003 in Adigrat.

After ordination, he first held the roles of vicar, parish priest and bursar in Adwa (2003-2006). He obtained a licentiate in theology from the Salesian Pontifical University of Rome (2006-2009). After serving as a lecturer in theology in Utume, Kenya (2009-2013), he was awarded a doctorate in theology from the Salesian Pontifical University of Rome (2013-2016), and went on to hold the offices of rector and parish priest in Mekanissa, Addis Ababa (2016-2019), provincial superior of the “Kidane Mehret” Salesian Visitation, Ethiopia-Eritrea (2019-2025), and president of the Conference of Major Superiors in Ethiopia (2020-2025).

This morning, the Holy Father received in audience:

- Archbishop Filippo Iannone, O. Carm., prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops;

- His Eminence Cardinal Michael Czerny, S.J., prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development; with Sr. Alessandra Smerilli, F.M.A., secretary; and His Eminence Cardinal Fabio Baggio, C.S., undersecretary;

- Mr. Raphaël Cornu-Thénard, head of the “Congrès Mission” Association, and entourage;

- Frère Matthew, prior of Taizé;

- Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendía, titular of Italica, apostolic nuncio in Great Britain;

- Archbishop Theodoros Kontidis, S.J., of Athēnai, Greece, apostolic administrator of Rhodos;

- His Eminence Cardinal Arthur Roche, prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments;

- Participants in the General Assembly of the Focolare Movement.

This morning, the Holy Father Leo XIV received in audience, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, Their Majesties King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain, who subsequently met with His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of His Holiness, accompanied by His Excellency Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations.

During the cordial talks, which took place at the Secretariat of State, appreciation was expressed for the good relations between the Holy See and Spain, which will reach a significant milestone in the Holy Father’s forthcoming Apostolic Journey. In this context, reference was made to a number of current issues concerning the situation in the country and the Church’s mission in society.

Finally, attention turned to some topics of a regional and international nature, highlighting the importance of constant commitment in support of peace and the reinforcement of the principles and values that underpin international coexistence.

From the Vatican, 20 March 2026