“It is beautiful,” said the Pope to his guests of MZF, “how you, as a community of religious brothers and committed laities, address all people of good will in the world to motivate them to help the poor, the needy and the marginalized to a better future.”
On Saturday, April 6, 2019, the Pope has met the staffs of the MZF on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the relief organization. More than twenty staffs of the MZF General Office, together with its first director of many years, Fr. Andreas Müller, and the current president, Fr. Matthias Maier, participated in the audience of the Pope.
Fr. Matthias Maier, President of the MZF in his address to Pope Francis has said, “We are grateful to be able to see a work that supports the entire Franciscan family throughout the world in their work with the poor. This would not be possible without the generous support from our donors, and we are very grateful.”
The Pope also praised the beginnings of the Franciscan institution by St. Francis of Assisi: “St. Francis was always an example to you who wanted to live as a poor man and let himself be touched by the poverty of the people. Thus, he found the peace of Christ and became himself a providential gift. Out of this spirit, your missionary headquarters has been able to grow from modest beginnings into a worldwide network of charity, solidarity and brotherhood.”
His commitment to the poor had also fallen into a time when the church was in a bad state. “Even today, we suffer on the margins of the church,” says Pope Francis. Renewal will be possible only “if we listen to the Lord, let ourselves be transformed by Him and continue to do good with him.” Pope Francis continued to encourage the staffs of MZF to “persevere” for the “good of all, and the integrity of creation.”
Source: https://mzf.org/