Abbot Richard meets Pope Francis!

On Thursday, 8 September 2016, the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the 250 abbots, abbesses and priors in Rome for the Congress of Abbots were received in audience by Pope Francis, in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace. In the course of the audience Pope Francis was greeted by outgoing Abbot Primate Notker Wolf, and also addressed the assembled Benedictines. To the delight of all, the pope also greeted each abbot, abbess and prior individually. Pictured right is our own Abbot Richard Cronin being received by Pope Francis. In his address the pope spoke well of monasteries that run schools: “May the students of your schools, through study and your testimony of life, be able to become experts in that humanism that emanates from the Benedictine Rule.”

As he concluded his address the pope told the assembled Benedictines: “Your service to the Church is very precious. In our time there is also need of men and women that place nothing before the love of Christ (cf.Rule of Saint Benedict, 4, 21; 72, 11), may they nourish themselves daily with the Word of God, may they celebrate the holy liturgy worthily, and may they work happily and actively in harmony with Creation.” May the pope’s prayer be so for St. Mary's Abbey and all of our brothers and sisters who follow the Rule of Benedict! The Congress concludes later this week and we bid Abbot Richard a safe return home!