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Address of Pope Francis to the pilgrimage promoted by the
Clerics Regular Theatines, on the 5th centenary of their foundation
Saint Peter’s Basilica, Altar of the Confession
Saturday, 14 September 2024
Dear brothers and sisters,
I am happy to meet you on the fifth centenary of the solemn vow of St, Cajetan of Thiene and his first companions, made here, in this Basilica, on 14 September 1524. History tells us that the Theatines had some differences with the Jesuits, but I don’t believe it! Let us go forward.
It was the beginning of your religious institute, founded to practice and promote “communal life and service to God through brothers”, and to contribute to the reform of the Church by reforming itself, on the basis of the first apostolic community (Mk 3:13-15 – Jesus went up into the hills, and called to himself those whom he desired; and they came to him. And he appointed twelve, to be with him, and to be sent out to preach and to have authority to cast out demons:).
I thank you, and I want to encourage you to continue to walk in this threefold direction, in renewal, communion and service. And I like to do so by taking as my starting point the place where we are and the circumstances in which your founders made their vows.
First: renewal.
The first Theatines did not make their solemn vows in a perfect building, complete, as we see it today, but practically in a large building site. That was how the Vatican Basilica looked in 1524.
In fact, work had already begun on the gradual demolition of the old Constantine building, which no longer met the needs of the People of God, in order to build a new one.
Work was slow, funds were scarce and even the plans were not entirely clear.
Work was proceeding slowly, funds were scarce, and even the plans were not entirely clear.
But they set to work, because the community was growing and the previous structures were no longer sufficient.
Brothers, this is an image that helps us reflect on the need to embark on courageous paths of renewal in order to remain faithful to our mission. It is interesting: fidelity must be renewed.
There cannot be fidelity that is not renewed, that remains founded on the old, yes, but at the same time is ready to demolish what is no longer needed in order to build something new docile to the Spirit and trusting in Providence. This is renewal. (Lk 5:36-39 – 36 He told them a parable: “No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it upon an old garment; if he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. 37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; if he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. 38 But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. 39 And no one after drinking old wine desires new; for he says, ‘The old is good.’)
The second is communion.
As we know, many people have worked on Saint Peter’s: famous artists, skilled craftsmen and a multitude of workers and laborers, men and women, engaged in the humblest of tasks, united in the same effort to bring the new building to life.
And this too is an important sign: indeed, a welcoming home is not built alone, but together, in a community, that values the contribution of all (1 Cor 12:7-11 – To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are inspired by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.).
The Third is the “fabric”, that is, service.
Renewal, communion and, third point, the “fabric”, that is, service.
The best plans will come to nothing if people do not roll up their sleeves and get to work.
Good intentions remain sterile if we do not truly place ourselves at the service of others, with humility, good will and a spirit of sacrifice.
St. Cajetan showed us this, with the many charitable works he promoted, some of which are still live today; but Jesus was the first to teach us this, by coming not to be served, but to serve and to give His life (Mk 10:45 – To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are inspired by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.). And it is very significant that your institute was founded precisely on the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
Dear brothers and sisters, how beautiful this Basilica is!
Then, however, let us look at each other and remember that the building we are in is only symbolic: we are the reality, personally and as a community.
Five hundred years ago, your founders did not consecrate their lives to a building site filled with bricks and marble, but to living stones (1 Pt 2:4-5 – Come to him, to that living stone, rejected by men but in God’s sight chosen and precious; 5 and like living stones be yourselves built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.); they consecrated their life to the Church with a capital “C”; the Church, Bride of Christ, people of God and mystical body of the Lord (cf. Dogmatic Constitution Lumen gentium, 6-9).
It is for her good that each of you has given of yourself to the end, giving life to a work which, after centuries of fidelity, is entrusted to you today. Be courageous and go forward!
I therefore invite the entire Theatine Family to joyfully embrace the intentions of renewal, communion and service, following the example of Saint Cajetan, during today’s Jubilee.
Thank you, thank you for your work.
I bless you and I pray for you! And please do not forget to pray for me.
