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| Rome, 31st march 1999
«To all mayors and consuls, magistrates and rulers throughout the world, and to everyone who may receive this letter: Brother Francis, your little and despicable servant in the Lord God, sends wishes of health and peace to you all.» (Francis of Assisi, Letter to the Rulers of the Peoples) We Franciscans, well aware of our own littleness, wish to address all those who in this fateful moment of war wield authority and power. We are on the point of celebrating that feast which is the source of all feasts. It is the Easter of the Lord Jesus, who sacrifices himself so that the world may have life.. We want to express our solidarity in the grief of those who have lost their loved ones and their homes through armed violence, and those driven out of their own land.
We feel closely united with our Franciscan Sisters and Brothers who are struggling to provide a caring welcome for ten of thousands of refugees in Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro Together with all the members of the entire Franciscan Family throughout the world we turn to the cross of Christ, imploring from him peace and reconciliation. Humbly yet insistently we call on all who have power and responsibility in this appalling conflict to use all their influence to keep open a dialogue between the parties involved. It is only the power of reason that can achieve a resolution fitting to human dignity and rejecting the folly of war. We wish to add our voices to that of Pope John Paul II, who said:«It is always the hour of peace. It is never too late to come together and negotiate.». We dare to ask in the name of all those who lack the good fortune of being able to make their own voices heard; of those who live under bombing, those forced to leave their homelands, those who suffer the atrocity of violence whether physical or psychological. We implore that everyone may be given the possibility of celebrating the solemnity of Easter in peace and tranquillity. «I, Brother Francis, your little servant, beg and implore you in the charity which is God, and wishing to kiss your feet, - to receive these words with humility and love.» (Francis of Assisi, Letter to all the Faithful). May the Lord give to the whole world the gift of his peace.
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A network for receiving refugees from Kosovo has been set up through the work of the Franciscans present in the Balkan region.
At Tuzi, the brethren are caring for some 2500 refugees in the parish, but the number grows from hour to hour.
The task of receiving people fleeing from Kosovo began last May, and is concentrated in two centres: at Dushaj (20 Kilometres from the Kosovo-Albania border) there is a first-aid post providing nursing care, which can accommodate 35 persons. It is conducted by the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart (Sisters of Gemona) at Scutari, a Reception Centre for 300 persons. The work is conducted in collaboration with the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). The service is coordinated by the Friars Minor in conjunction with the Diocese, Caritas Albania, and other Religious Institutes in the city, but served entirely by men and women religious. |
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Addressed to OFM Curia Generale - Economato Emergenza Kossovo in Euro conto n. 27.505.005 in US Dollar conto n. 27.505.011 in Lire italiane conto n. 27.505.004
Addressed to Casa Generalizia OFM - Economato Generale Emergenza Kossovo in Euro conto n. 102900/18 in Lire italiane conto n. 021520/40 |
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