To the Friars of the Order
To the Poor Clare and Conceptionist Sisters
To the Franciscan Sisters affiliated with the Order
To Franciscan laymen and women
Rome, 29th March 2026
Palm Sunday
Dear brothers and sisters,
May the Lord give you peace!
This year marks the eighth centenary of the death of Saint Francis. In this context, we celebrate the Lord's Easter with a renewed awareness: Francis, although he died on October 3, 1226, far from the liturgical season of Easter, experienced his death as a true Easter, so much so that he called death "sister."
An eloquent gesture bears witness to this: Francis wanted to hear chapter 13 of the Gospel of John, the account of the washing of the feet, which speaks of service and humility. In that supreme moment, he had already crossed the threshold of death, dwelling in the very heart of the paschal mystery of Christ.
Today, we live in a time full of uncertainties: geopolitical changes, wars that tear apart peoples and nations, and crises in our societies put us to the test. It is easy to seek superficial consolations in the face of such difficulties. Yet Francis shows us another way.
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