Riccardi

Rocca di Papa, 18 July 1967 Presenter: "... Any day now, His Holiness, the great Roman Pope, will go on a pilgrimage in this old city."We take this great opportunity to bring the Churches even closer. We are nearing the goal of unity." These are the words expressed in these days by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Athenagoras, referring to the upcoming visit of Pope Paul VI to Istanbul and Ephesus. It’s a serene and affectionate declaration of a great soul, of a man of our times. These are the words of someone who, three years ago, was already a protagonist with Pope Paul, in an historical encounter in Palestine. Who is this man? What are his feelings, his hopes and his goals? How can we describe his personality?Miss Chiara Lubich, foundress and president of the Focolare Movement, just before the announcement of the Pope’s visit, had the opportunity to meet with him precisely in these days in Constantinople.What are your first impressions from your recent encounter with Patriarch Athenagoras?    Chiara:

Rome. (written before 1963) Living everything “within”, living and dying, makes sense… Those who love You sincerely, Lord, often feel Your presence in the silence of their room or in the depths of their heart, and this sensation moves them to the very core of their being. They thank You for being so near to them – indeed, for being everything to them: for being the One who gives meaning to their living and their dying. They thank You… but often the way and the words with which to thank You elude them. They only know that You love them and that they love You, and there is nothing so sweet here on earth that is even remotely similar. What they experience when You draw near is paradise and, almost involuntarily, there spring to their lips the words: “If this is paradise, then it is truly wonderful!” They thank You, Lord, for their lives and for having guided them this far. There may be lingering shadows to darken this foretaste of