01-02-2007 - Traces, n. 2 The work of the Movement Fr. Carrón's letter to all the friends in the Movement Dear Friends, Full of gratitude for the Holy Father’s huge gift of an audience with the whole Movement - on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Pontifical recognition of the Fraternity -, in St. Peter’s Square next March 24, we want to correspond with all our heart in a preparation adequate to the event’s importance. We are all well aware of the importance of the figure of the Successor of St. Peter for the Church’s life. In him we have the unfailing point of reference for our faith, without which it would decay into one of the many different ideologies that dominate the world. The power of the Spirit, linked to his ministry, is the guarantee of the presence of Christ in history. It is this awareness that must bring us all before the Holy Father with that filial devotion in which we have been educated. Our gesture intends to be an acknowledgement of what the Pope represents for our life, and an expression of our desire to follow him. Going to Rome is a sign of simple and total adhesion to his person and to his magisterium, for which we are so grateful. How many times has our life felt sustained by his words! Moreover, Pope Benedict has been tied to our history in such a singular way that we feel him particularly close. He knows us well, just as he knew Fr. Giussani well—we all had the chance to see him at his funeral. This knowledge permits us to go to the Holy Father with the certain hope that he will offer us a word that will lighten up our way in this crucial moment of our history, of that of the Church, and of that of the world. We all know the significance of Pope John Paul II’s mandate, on the occasion of the audience for the 30th anniversary of the Movement, in 1984: “Go out into the whole world to bring the truth, the beauty and the peace that are met in Christ the Redeemer.” Let us prepare ourselves to meet Benedict XVI by asking our Lady, in the daily Angelus, and Fr. Giussani an eagerness all intent on listening to him and following him. An embrace full of affection for each of you, Fr. Julián Carrón