Rome, 17 November 2000

On the Feast of Saint Elizabeth we, the members of the Presidency of the International Council of the Secular Franciscan Order, united for our ordinary service to the International Fraternity, wish, together with all our sisters and brothers throughout the world, to thank the Lord for the generous mercy he has shown us during this year 2000, which is now drawing to a close.

We are all sons and daughters of the same Father and members of the same Family of God. We recall that all that we are, and all that we have, comes from Him, our Father, and that nothing belongs to us except our weaknesses and sins.

As fruit of the Jubilee Year we wish to apply a new vision and start to look at each other with the eyes of God in order to recognize the unique icon of God, which every one of us represents. Every person is a gift of God, every difference of race, culture and mentality gives us the possibility of complementing each other and is thus a source of great riches. The way of reconciliation comes from God and leads to Him, the Father of Mercy, who is waiting for us to return to His house.

We believe firmly that
-- a more fraternal world is possible;
-- respect for the other and collaboration are necessary;
-- forgiveness and reconciliation constitute the way that leads to justice and authentic unity.

What we will try to do, we also invite you to do:
-- to allow yourselves to be found and loved by God, who is Love;
-- to let yourselves be reconciled by the Lord;
-- setting out from God to construct unity and fraternity amongst ourselves, with the other components of the Franciscan Family and with the rest of the world;
-- to administer carefully the goods received for the benefit of all the children of God.

Our Patron Saint asks every fraternity all over the world, at every level, to find their own ways and contexts in which to conclude the Holy Year with concrete gestures of pardon, reconciliation and fraternity.

Emanuela De Nunzio OFS
Minister General