Pope: Consolata missionaries, dialogue with Islam, woman's dignity, attention to the family

Francis calls on the Consolata missionaries carry out a careful discernment on the situation of peoples among whom they carry out their mission and to bring comfort to those who are marked by great poverty, for example in Africa and Latin America.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Dialogue with Islam, woman's dignity, attention to the family, attention to the reality of the peoples among whom they are on mission. These are the "suggestions" offered by Pope Francis to the participants in the General Chapter of the Consolata Missionary: about 120 people received this morning in the Vatican.

To give fresh impetus to missionary activity and to revitalize its style, the Pope urged a poor and simple presence among people with "sensitivity to the inculturation of the Gospel". He underlined, “dialogue with Islam, the commitment to promoting the dignity of women and the values ​​of the family, the sensitivity to the issues of justice and peace deserve special attention."

He added that constant contact with Jesus is vital to give mission new impetus. "This will allow you to be actively present in the new arenas of evangelization, privileging them, even if this involves sacrifices, opening up to situations that, by their particular reality, prove to be emblematic for our time. "

Urged the consolata missionaries to carry out a careful discernment on the situation of peoples among whom they carry out their mission and to bring comfort to those who are marked by great poverty, for example in Africa and Latin America.

The story of "your institutes", with the highs and lows of all families, he said, has been marked by the Cross in recent times. "How can you not recall here your brothers and sisters who loved the Gospel of charity more than themselves and crowned missionary service with the sacrifice of their life? May their unqualified evangelical choice illuminates your missionary commitment and encourages everyone to pursue renewed generosity in your particular mission in the Church. "

"To carry on this unimaginable mission, we need to live communion with God ever more aware of the Lord’s mercy of which we are the object. It is much more important to realize how much we are loved by God, than how we love Him! It is good to consider this priority of God's free and merciful love first and to feel our commitment and our effort as a response."