The opening day of the Chapter consisted of addresses by two well-known friars of our Order: Bishop Paolo Martinelli and Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa. After the Eucharist, with Bishop Paul as the presider, Cardinal Cantalamessa, Preacher of the Papal Household started from the picture of the Order provided to him by the General Minister’s report, dwelling on the theme of formation, which we can define as the process of “conforming to the lifestyle of the Holy Gospel, the authentic way to life” and keeping the same interests as Jesus of Nazareth, the horizon of our life. For the Cardinal, keeping our gaze on Christ corresponds to what Francis himself desired throughout his life, to the very end, and which he left as our legacy: “to know what God wants of you, do not look to me, look to Christ.”
From this fundamental basis, the Cardinal then called the Chapter members to be attentive to the importance and consequences of formation, recalling that “in the past, young people arrived at the novitiate almost always coming from families and a society permeated by faith in Christ […]. Today, we know, the situation has changed. Formation can no longer take care of embellishments and plasterwork but must build the master walls of the spiritual edifice: familiarity with the Word of God, openness to the action of the Holy Spirit, and above all knowledge and love for the person of Jesus Christ.” Within these dynamics of change, Cantalamessa wondered “how it is possible to help the candidates for our life to realize a personal encounter with Jesus.” Quoting St. Bonaventure, he reaffirmed that “only those who are inflamed in their innermost being by the Holy Spirit sent by Christ to earth” can help us realize such a personal encounter with Him.
Amid the current challenges of our Order, which in some parts of the world is called to decide on the “closure of houses one after another and with great suffering of all,” Cantalamessa sees a “sign of consolation, in the spreading of fraternity in what were once mission territories.” Therefore, what must sustain us and preserve us from discouragement and resignation is the courage and simplicity of leaving room for “Jesus Christ who is the same, yesterday, today and forever” (Heb. 13:8). The Cardinal concluded his reflection by encouraging the General Minister, present and future, and the Chapter brothers to be certain of His presence: “I am with you!” says the Lord.
Exhortation to the General Chapter of the Capuchin Order