Holy Father Pope Francis met on 19th April, with a group of Benedictine abbots and monks who are marking the 125th anniversary of the foundation of their confederation. His Holiness Pope Francis highlighted the work of hospitality, education and dialogue for which the Benedictines are renowned in countries across the globe.
As reported by Vatican Radio, Holy Father Pope Francis remarked that “St Benedict, in his day marked by a profound crisis of values and institutions, was able to discern the essentials of spiritual life, placing the Lord firmly at the centre. Benedictines today must practice the same discernment in order to recognise the things that come from the Holy Spirit and the worldly things that come from the devil.” Further, His Holiness added, “In today’s hectic environment where people have no time to listen to God’s voice. Benedictine convents and monasteries become oases where women and men of all ages, backgrounds, cultures and religions can discover the beauty of silence and the harmony of God’s creation.”
Holy Father concluded his remarks by thanking them for the work of their schools and universities in different parts of the world which continue to offer students a ‘school of service to the Lord’.
