by Carol Glatz

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – With so much spiritual, social and moral suffering in the world, the Church has “no right” to stay locked up in an ivory tower, engaging in “byzantine” philosophical reflection, Pope Francis told members of the Focolare movement.

“We have to go out! So that – I’ve said this before – the church seems like a field hospital,” where the first order of the day “is heal the wounds, not measure people’s cholesterol. That comes later. Got it?” he said to applause.

The pope met at the Vatican with 500 people from 136 countries; they were attending the Focolare general assembly in Rome Sept. 1-28.

During the assembly, members re-elected Italian Maria Voce for a second six-year-term as president and elected Spaniard Jesus Moran Cepedano as the new co-president.

In his audience with members of the movement, Pope Francis said the new evangelization must go out to everyone, “starting with the poorest and excluded,” so they, too, may experience “hope, brotherhood and joy in humanity’s journey toward unity.”

Focolare members, like all Catholics, can contribute to “this new season of evangelization” by being creative in the ways it brings God’s word to the world.

This work demands “contemplation, going out, and formation,” he said.

“Today more than ever before, we have to contemplate God and the wonders of his love,” Pope Francis said. By recognizing and letting Jesus dwell in them, he said, Catholics can avoid narcissism and can share Him with others.

Going forth means doing what Jesus did as He always was “walking and sowing anew,” freely and generously, the pope said. This takes “aiming high and expanding one’s gaze” beyond one’s own horizons, he said.