Saturday, October 14, 2017

Greetings for the Emperor Karl League

At 11:10am this morning, in the Clementine Hall at the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father, Pope Francis received in audience the members of the Emperor Karl League of Prayer for Peace among the People who are in Rome for their annual international assembly.


Speech of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
addressed to members of the
Emperor Karl League of Prayer

Your Royal Highnesses,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Dear brothers and sisters,

With affection, I greet you and, through you, I greet all the members of the Emperor Karl League of Prayer for Peace among people in various countries throughout the world.  I thank your President, Monsignor Fernand Franck for his words.  Your annual assembly in Rome takes place in the context of the centenary of an initiative for peace that was undertaken by Pope Benedict XV and, along with other political leaders, was supported solely by the Blessed Emperor Karl, who had a strong desire to end the massacre of World War I.

The three objectives of the League of prayer emphasized by your President - seeking and observing the will of God, engaging in the promotion of peace and justice, and expiating the injustices committed throughout history - were, so to speak, the recurring motives in the life of Blessed Karl in his role of statesman, husband and father of a family and as a son of the Church.  By giving himself to the will of God, he accepted suffering and offered his own life in sacrifice for peace, always supported by the love and faith of his wife, the Servant of God Zita.

The challenges of our times require the collaboration of every person of good will and, in particular, our prayer and our sacrifice.  I invite you therefore to maintain your promise of participating through prayer and personal commitment, in the Pope's many efforts in favour of peace.  Without the support of the prayer of the faithful, the Successor of Peter could never accomplish his mission in the world.  I also count on you.  I entrust you to the maternal protection of Blessed Mary and to the intercession of the Blessed Emperor Karl, and with all my heart, I impart to you and to your loved ones my Apostolic Blessing.

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