18 – 19 May 2013
Thousands of members belonging to Movements, New Communities and Lay groups will participate in the Pentecoste Vigil and Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square.
“We would like the Pope to feel he is meeting thousands of people who yearn to be witnesses of the vitality of faith, of the richness of God’s gifts, of the ability to respond to today’s major challenges through the various charisms that the movements and associations are endowed with”. This is what Maria Voce augured on the eve of the Pope’s meeting with thousands of members of various ecclesial associations.
15 years have passed since that first large gathering of movements with John Paul II on May 30, 1998, and seven years passed since a similar meeting with Benedict XVI that took place on June 3, 2006. Later on, Papa Ratzinger said: “The ecclesial movements and new communities are one of the most important innovations inspired by the Holy Spirit for the implementation of Vatican Council II”.
The fruits of communion among movements that matured during these years are abundant. And their openness even towards movements that belong to other various Christian Churches gave rise to the initiative “Together for Europe”, a contribuition towards the much hoped for “New Europe of the Spirit”.
Updated on May, 20th 2013
BF
SIF – Focolare Information Service
