Letter of Fr. Enrique Sánchez in Vatican paper

In the central pages of its Saturday, July 20 edition, the Osservatore Romano announced the meeting which Pope Francis, Bishop of Rome, will have with the clergy of the diocese of Rome. Besides the news item titled “Shepherds of the people and not State clerics,” it also carries a text – suggested by the Pope in preparation for the meeting which will be held in the cathedral of St. John Lateran on September 16 – containing reflections and points of view over various aspects regarding the topic of “the concept of the presbyter presented by the Document of Aparecida.” Beyond touching on questions on priests explicitly dealt with in the document of the fifth conference of the Latin American bishops (CELAM), the text by Card Jorge Mario Bergoglio deals, in a wider perspective, with categories that are valid for anyone involved in mission.

In connection with this news item, the Vatican newspaper also published the letter “Being missionaries in Pope Francis’ time” written by the superior general of the Comboni Missionaries, Fr. Enrique Sánchez González.

This letter was sent by Fr. Enrique to the confreres four months after the election of the Pope. In it the superior general writes: The atmosphere we are breathing here in Rome, and which seems to us to be going beyond its walls, will certainly bear extraordinary fruit and will be a great blessing if it succeeds in transforming itself into a new opportunity to become aware of the riches of life we bear within ourselves, the life of God who lives in those who are willing to open the doors of their hearts.”

“But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be my witnesses
 both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
(Acts of the Apostles 1.8)