Movements: United, Free, Alive

Pope Benedict XVI welcomes church movements to Rome at Pentecost, encouraging them to be “light in a bewildered world.”

The crowd exceeded expectations, with 450,000 lining the streets surrounding St. Peter’s Square in Rome on June 3, 2006. Banners and flags—sailing above a sea of young people—represented their countries and communities.

Tens of thousands were from the largest movements: Charismatic Renewal, the Neocatechumenal Way, the Focolare, Communion and Liberation and the Community of Sant’Egidio. Hundreds of smaller communities were also represented, having flourished within the Church since the first meeting of ecclesial movements with John Paul II at Pentecost in 1998. Delegations from other Christian churches also attended including Orthodox, Anglicans and Evangelical Lutherans.

There were two basic questions leading up to this gathering. What guidelines would the new pope give these communities? Would he continue the legacy of his predecessor, who was a great supporter of new charisms—new gifts of the Spirit in the Church?

Benedict gave some hints in the days leading up to the event, writing to 300 delegates attending the second World Congress on Ecclesial Movements and New Communities. “You belong to the living structure of the Church,” he wrote, inviting them to be “schools of communion” and “light in a bewildered world.”

His words at the Vigil of Pentecost had even greater impact.

As a prelude, Graziella De Luca read a message from Focolare founder Chiara Lubich, who could not attend for health reasons. Andrea Riccardi, the Sant’ Egidio founder, followed, as did Fr. Julian Carron of Communion and Liberation, who has succeeded Monsignor Luigi Giussani, its founder.

“How difficult it is for institutions to understand that they need charisms!” declared fervently Neocatechumenal co-founder Kiko Arguello.

The stage was set for Pope Benedict, who invited the movements to be united, free and alive. “The Movements were born precisely from the thirst for true life; they are movements for life in every sense,” he said.

“Be schools of freedom. Authentic freedom shows itself in responsibility.” Later he added, “The Holy Spirit, giving life and freedom, also gives unity. These are three gifts that are inseparable from one another.”

The pope concluded with a request. “I ask you to collaborate even more, very much more, in the Pope’s universal apostolic ministry.”

Around the world, there are a number of difficulties existing between these new communities and local dioceses and parishes. The pope cautioned bishops not to extinguish the Spirit (1 Thes 5:19) and encouraged the movements. “In this way you will not cease to bring your gifts to the entire community,” he said.

Archbishop Fouad Twal, now of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, was bishop in Tunisia when he once asked the movements for help. His call was answered by Communion and Liberation, Neocatechumenals and the Focolare.

“Our Church has begun to be rejuvenated and to live its universality more through the diversity of charisms,” he said. “While Muslim Arab youth dreamed of going to Europe to flee violence, fear and a lack of security, European young people, enthusiastic and committed members of ecclesial movements,
left comfort and freedom behind and began to work with generosity and discretion.

“It was a healthy shock for the Muslim community, inviting them to reflect. Dialogue began.”

What else has been accomplished since the last time these movements gathered in Rome? In 1998 John Paul II had challenged them. “The Church expects mature fruits of communion and commitment from you,” he said.

The answer could be clearly seen in the spirit of friendship, oneness and collaboration that now exists, thanks to these communities.

Archbishop Stanislaw Rylko, president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, explained further. He pointed out three signs of “ecclesial maturity”—a deeper communion with the pope and bishops and among movements; a missionary thrust that finds new ways to announce the Gospel; and a spirit of youthfulness that is the fruit of daily faithfulness to each charism.

Archbishop Rylko also affirmed the movements’ countercultural stance. “It is through these charisms that multitudes of men and women of our times have gone against the prevailing currents to discover the beauty of being Christian and to find joy in communicating it to others.”

He said that as the movements mature, bishops and parish priests recognize their value and count on them more and more for assistance. Church leaders are now “seeing them as a gift of the spirit, not as an annoying intrusion, as has sometimes happened.”

The beauty of a committed Christian life, the archbishop said, challenges “the indifference, grayness and mediocrity of many peoples’ existence, sparking the need for something different, something more beautiful and true.”

“Something more beautiful” could have also described the sunset over Rome that sealed this unforgettable day. It had rained until the night before.