Santiago de Compostela, 5th April 2004

To the Brothers and the Sisters of the Secular Franciscan Order

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

May the Lord give you peace!

The reason for sending you this short message is the coming 25th anniversary of the approval of the Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order by Paul VI. It was on the 24th June 1978, in fact, that the Pope signed the Apostolic Letter «Seraphicus Patriarcha» through which he approved the new Rule of the SFO, one of his last official acts before his death.

In remembering that extraordinary gift of the Pope, we wish to express to the Lord our gratitude and joy for the many gifts generously given to the Secular Franciscans of the whole world, who have accepted and lived the charism of the Seraphic Father.

The SFO is living a new spring today: it is more aware of belonging to the Church, to its own Order, to the Franciscan Family and to the world, where it is called on to give, through its life, active and coherent witness to the charism received.

We live in a time torn apart by social, political and religious divisions and many peoples suffer war, terrorism and violence and do not find a way of peace: the Secular Franciscans, in these our times, are precisely called to be witnesses to communion, solidarity, hope and peace, to be men and women capable of «courageous choices» in order to give to the world a radiant face that can only be constructed by beginning again from Christ.

During this significant 25th anniversary of the Pauline Rule, we wish you, Brothers and Sisters of the Secular Franciscan Order, a new beginning from Christ in walking in unity under the guidance of the one Spirit, in opening up to dialogue and the acceptance of all and in rediscovering the «fraternity» as a privileged place and springboard for a commitment in the world.

Each Secular Franciscan should be aware of his/her mission and of being, personally, a sower of Peace and a witness to true Fraternity.

Fr. Ilija Zivkovic' - Minister general TOR - President
Fr. José Rodríguez Carballo - Minister general OFM
Fr. Joachim Giermek - Minister general OFMConv
Fr. John Corriveau - Minister general OFMCap
Encarnación del Pozo - Minister general SFO
Sor Carola Thomann - President CIF - TOR