Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Though physically far away, in service to the universal Church, I feel closely united to all consecrated men and women at the start of this Year which I wanted to be dedicated to consecrated life.

I greet with affection all the members of the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, and all those present here in the Basilica of St Mary Major, under the tender gaze of the Blessed Virgin Salus Populi Romani, for this Prayer Vigil. With you I also greet all the consecrated men and women living and working throughout the world.

On this occasion, my first words are those of gratitude to the Lord for the precious gift of consecrated life to the Church and to the world. May this Year of Consecrated Life be an occasion for all members of the People of God to thank the Lord, from whom every good thing comes, for the gift of consecrated life, enhancing its value fittingly. Dear consecrated brothers and sisters, my gratitude goes likewise to you for what you are and what you do in the Church and in the world: may this be an “intense time” to celebrate with the whole Church the gift of your vocation and to renew your prophetic mission.

I repeat to you today too, what I have already said to you several times before: “Wake up the world! Wake up the world!”. How?

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