Hope in trial

As we had announced previously, due to serious preoccupations brought to the attention of the Holy See that signaled a tense and problematic situation in our Community as regards the Founder’s exercise of authority, the governance, and the fraternal climate, the Holy Father Francis decided on an Apostolic Visit, which he entrusted to the Rev. Father Abbot Guillermo León Arboleda Tamayo, OSB, the Rev. Father Amedeo Cencini, FDCC, and the Rev. Mother Anne-Emmanuelle Devéche, OCSO, abbess of Blauvac.

Taking into account the ecclesial and ecumenical importance of the Community of Bose, as well as the importance that it continue to exercise its acknowledged role, overcoming grave anxieties and incomprehension that might weaken or even annul it, the Holy Father intended to offer to the Community through the Apostolic Visit assistance in the form of a period in which several persons of proven trust and wisdom might listen to the members of the Community.

The Apostolic Visit took place from 6 December 2019 to 6 January 2020, and at its end the Visitors consigned to the Holy See their report, drawn up on the basis of the contribution of testimonies freely given by every member of the Community. After long and attentive discernment and prayer, the Holy See reached its conclusions, under the form of a singular decree of 13 May 2020, signed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of His Holiness, and approved specifically by the Pope, which were communicated to the interested parties a few days ago by the Rev. Father Amedeo Cencini, named Pontifical Delegate ad nutum Sanctae Sedis, with full powers, accompanied by His Excellency Archbishop José Rodriguez Carballo, OFM, Secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, and by His Excellency Archbishop Marco Arnolfo, Metropolitan of Vercelli.

This communication was carried out with the greatest possible respect for the privacy of the interested parties. However, since from the moment of the notification of the decree, the announced refusal of its provisions on the part of several of the interested parties has led to a situation of further confusion and unease, it is opportune to specify that the above-mentioned provisions regard Br. Enzo Bianchi, two brothers and one sister, who are to separate themselves from the Monastic Community of Bose and to move to another place and who at the same time are relieved of all the offices they presently hold.

In addition, through a letter of the Secretary of State to the Prior and the Community, the Holy See has traced a path of the future and of hope, indicating the basic lines of a process of renewal, which, we trust, will give a fresh impetus to our monastic and ecumenical life.

In this period of preparation for Pentecost we invoke a renewed effusion of the Holy Spirit on every heart, that He may bend what is rigid, warm warm is cold, straighten what is astray, and aid all so that the charity that never fails might prevail.