Pope Francis receives leaders of US Industrial Regions Foundation – Vatican News
Pope Francis received the leaders of the American Industrial Area Foundation at the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta on the afternoon of August 28. The purpose of their visit was to report to the Pope on the progress of the Church’s organizational community network.
(Vatican News)Leaders of the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) of the West and Southwest of the United States met with Pope Francis at the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta on Wednesday afternoon, August 28. The purpose of the community-based organization’s visit was to “share with the Holy Father the process that has been taken and to ask for his advice on the next steps to take together with the Network of Ecclesiastical Organizations (RECOR)”.
That afternoon, about 20 leaders, both priests and lay people, presented to the Pope the new network of ecclesial communities (RECOR), which, accompanied by Catholic bishops, is willing to take the lead in the formation and implementation of the Church’s social teaching, ensuring “a lifestyle that has the flavor of the Gospel”.
That morning, representatives of the Industrial Regions of the West and Southwest of the United States met with Emilce Cuda, Secretary General of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, to advance their strategy of building bridges between North and South America for the common good.
Testimonies from participants
During the meeting at Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis encouraged leaders to build bridges of solidarity “so that our peoples may live”.
After the audience with the Holy Father, Jorge Montiel, organizer of the Industrial Regions Foundation of the Western and Southwestern United States, said, “Pope Francis greatly appreciates the people’s ability to govern themselves. The wealth of the people lies in their organizational ability. He also reminded us that Pope Paul VI once said that politics is the most powerful expression of charity.”
Maria Guadalupe Valdez of the Diocese of San Antonio, Texas, noted that “the pope encourages us to move forward, to take action, not to stand aside and watch.”
Elizabeth Valdez, a member of the Industrial Areas Foundation of the Western and Southwestern United States, shared that the network of church organizations “covers multiple Christian churches, associations, universities and other organizations. The majority of participants are Catholics, but Protestants, synagogues and mosques are also involved.”
Link URL: www.vaticannews.cn
Subscribe to our email newsletter: