Brothers Ernesto Sánchez and Emili Turú visit the Vatican

Brothers Emili Turú and Ernesto Sánchez met with Card. João Braz de Aviz, prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life on Nov. 7.

The purpose of the visit was to introduce the new superior general, Brother Ernesto Sánchez, to the various Vatican departments related to consecrated life, with which the Institute normally discusses issues.

During the encounter with the Cardinal, who welcomed the superior and former superior of the Institute in a fraternal way, they discussed the General Chapter recently held in Colombia and on its future calls.

Cardinal João, who presided the bicentenary celebration on June 6 at the general house, thanked the Marist Institute for its work and expressed his appreciation for the path the Brothers and the Marist laity have taken together in recent years.

He also expressed his preoccupation for the number for religious who annually request an indult of exclaustration, encouraging us to continue to put energy and care in the vocational accompaniment of the younger generations and in ongoing formation.

He also expressed his admiration and support for the vocation as religious brothers, encouraging them to continue to deepen their being Brothers and to live and radically witness to their consecration in today’s world.

At the end of the encounter, Brothers Emili and Ernesto gave him the book of photographs published on the occasion of the bicentenary and thanked him for the video greeting sent by the Cardinal to the Chapter participants, which was shown on the day of the opening.

Around noon, the time of the Angelus prayer coincided, at which time they were invited to join in this prayer with all the staff of the dicastery.

The Cardinal then introduced the two Brothers to the staff, an occasion that allowed them to greet the heads of the different offices, including the undersecretaries, Father Sebastián Paciolla and Sister Nicla Spezzati, as well as several other officials;

And, at a separate moment, they also had the opportunity to greet the Congregation’s secretary, Archbishop José R. Carballo. Many of them recognized Brother Emili Turú, who has been invited last year to animate a day’s retreat with all the staff.

During their visit to the Vatican, Brothers Emili and Ernesto took the opportunity to also visit the office of the Union of Superiors General (USG), located near the Vatican, to greet the permanent secretaries. The office showed appreciation for Br Emili’s collaboration during these last few years as superior general of the Marist Brothers.