Today, members of the Chapter along with the ancillary staff travelled by coach from the Chapter venue, the Salesianum, to the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican to participate in a general audience with Pope Benedict. Fr John Hannan, our new Superior General, was introduced to the pope following the audience. He assured His Holiness of his filial obedience. The pope gave Fr Hannan his blessing and, through him, blessed all members of the Society of Mary and the work in which they are engaged. Following the papal audience, most capitulants returned to the Salesianum. Some continued their committee work in preparation of a full program of Chapter business tomorrow.
Pope Benedict said: “I greet the participants in the General Chapter of the Society of Mary – Marist Fathers – and I assure them of my prayer that, faithful to their original charism, they can commit themselves with a renewed impetus to the work of evangelization.”