ROME CONFERS HONORARY CITIZENSHIP ON CHIARA LUBICH

VATICAN CITY, JAN 22, 2000 (VIS) - Made public today was a letter of congratulation from the Holy Father to Chiara Lubich, foundress and president of the Focolare movement, on the occasion of her 80th birthday today for which the local authorities in Rome have granted her honorary citizenship.

"After (God) called you through Baptism to become His beloved daughter," the Pope writes, "He wished to unite you more intimately to the poor, chaste and obedient Christ through complete consecration to His love. (He did so) in order that you, with an undivided heart, be a messenger of unity and mercy among so many brothers and sisters in all parts of the world."

John Paul II states that "in the footsteps of Christ, crucified and abandoned, you gave life to the Focolare movement to help the men and women of our time to experience the faithfulness of God. With them, you live the grace of fraternal communion that they might become joyous and credible proclaimers of the Gospel."

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