Rome, October 23, 2001

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The Lord give you peace!

May He give peace to this world marked by insecurity, fear, war and so many forms of violence.

May the Lord be close to all those who suffer through no fault of their own except their tragic lack of power.

We cannot abandon ourselves to a passive resignation without any reaction, and without undertaking some initiatives of solidarity, dialogue and reconciliation. Francis himself affirms "It is a great shame for the servants of God if they do nothing to again establish peace and concordance" (see LP 44).

We want to express our special closeness in these days with our Brothers and Sisters of the Franciscan Family who live in Pakistan. Speaking with Brother Sebastian Shaw, Minister Provincial of the Province of Saint John the Baptist in Pakistan, we have learned that all the Brothers of the Province are resolved to continue the dialogue with all people and to help the numerous refugees who are fleeing from Afghanistan in greater number each day.

Let us continue to be close to them in prayer each day. We can also help those "forced nomads" who, because of the violence, are constrained to leave all they possess.

May the Lord remain always with us and grant that we always remain with Him!

Brother Giacomo Bini, ofm
Minister General

PAKISTAN FRIARS RESPOND

The Pakistani Friars of the Province of Saint John the Baptist in Pakistan share in the difficulties of their Nation during these days. As part of the Christian community they experience an additional tension. As a fraternity they see this "as a time to play our role as peacemakers."

Franciscan Peacemaking was the subject of a letter from the Minister Provincial, Brother Sebastian Shaw, to the forty-three Friars living in five communities and engaging in a variety of ministries. He called on the Brothers to be peacemakers on three levels. They find their inspiration and approach in the words and action of our Father Saint Francis.

* Within the Friar community: They are to pray for peace, reflect on peacemaking and examine their own lives as followers of Francis and persons of peace.

* In the parishes and ministries: In promoting peacemaking the friars should encourage people to share their views on peace, on war and on terrorism. They are to listen to people rather than argue, recall the ideas and efforts of Francis for peace, and together pray for peace.

* In schools and house visitation, the friars and people can pray the peace prayer daily, share the meaning of peace and its fruits, suggest and read passages of Scripture so the people do not live in fear and despair.

Seeing the plight of the Afghani Refugees the Franciscans have a desire and a plan to help. In Quetta, on the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, there is a Franciscan house. Tensions are heightened because of the opposition to the bombings. The influx of refugees is a burden on the Pakistanis. There already is poverty and need. The refugees who have crossed the border will not find employment until the situation becomes normal again. In some areas there has been no rain for three to five years and so there is a lack of potable water and sufficient food. The refugees will share the resources of the area, but it could be that there is "one loaf of bread and five people will fight to have it."

The Pakistani Friars will not go to Afghanistan. Rather they will offer support on their side of the border. With the offerings received they will purchase things like blankets, rice, and other foodstuffs and necessities. These will be packed in trucks labeled "Franciscan Donation" and handed over to known and trusted UNO workers who have permission to enter Afghanistan to distribute aid. In this we have as an intermediary the well-known social worker Molana Abdul Sittar Eudhi, a figure like Mother Teresa universally respected on both sides. A brother who is a trained nurse will be sent to Quetta and join the team of doctors and nurses helping refugees who are sick or injured.

UNIVERSAL SOLIDARITY
Many Friars and friends from different parts of the world through phone calls and e-mails assured us of their prayers at this difficult time of our history, recalls Brother Sebastian. Others expressed a desire to help. The General Curia of the Order of Friars Minor will arrange for the transfer of all cash donations to the Friars in Pakistan for their program of Afghan Refugee assistance.

CONTRIBUTIONS CAN BE SENT:
* by check payable to L'Ufficio per lo Sviluppo and mailed to L'Ufficio per lo Sviluppo, Curia Generalizia dei Frati Minori, Via Santa Maria Mediatrice, 25, 00165 Roma, Italia

* by bank transfer to
Istituto per le Opere di Religione, 00120 Città del Vaticano
Account 27505-005 (Euro) OR Account 27505-011 (US$)
SWIFT: IOPRVAVX
Title: OFM Curia Generale Economato
Motive: Afghan refugees

* by bank transfer to Banca IntesiaBCI, Roma, Piazzale Gregorio VII, 10
EURO c/cn. 102900/18 ABI 03069 CAB 05032 Economato Generale Euro

* In Italy by transfer to Conte Corrente Postale Number 75362004 - Causale "Afghan Regugees" Curia Generalizia dei Frati Minori - Via Santa Maria Mediatrice, 25 - 00165 Roma, Italia

Please in all transfers inform the General Curia of your contribution specifying bank account, date and amount and repeating your intention: Afghan Refugees. This should be sent to L'Ufficio per lo Sviluppo - Curia Generalizia dei Frati Minori - Via Santa Maria Mediatrice, 25 - 00165 Roma, Italia - telephone +39-0668491390 - fax +39-066380292 - e-mail devgen@ofm.org

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