Rome, March, 2000

A month ago my Franciscan Brothers and Sisters united in celebrating the Jubilee of the Consecrated Life. Pope John Paul II encouraged religious with the words "Being a pilgrim in so many parts of the world, I was able to note the value of your prophetic presence for the entire Christian people."

We Friars Minor Franciscans see this as an affirmation of our vocation and a challenge for our future. Joyfully but conscious of our limits we accept both and dedicate ourselves to be followers of Francis in the Church, with the people, for the Third Millenium.

God gives us vocations especially in the young Church communities in developing countries. So our future looks bright. When we look at the situation of the Order we see a changing pattern of needs and of the ability to support these initiatives of formation and evangelization. This gives rise to some concern.

Convinced that the Order has a role to play in the Third Millenium, we have established a Jubilee Fund for Formation and Evangelization. The fund will be an endowment to guarantee in the future the basic needs of our fraternity in these two areas.

We invite you to join with us in this act of faith in the future and in solidarity with our brothers in places where the Order is developing and struggling in impoverished areas.

Lest we forget the friends who join us in this effort, the names of those who respond to this appeal will be inscribed in the Jubilee Book kept here in the General Curia so that we are constantly reminded to pray for our benefactors. The Lord give you peace!

Brother Giacomo Bini, OFM
Minister General