Pope Francis held two private audiences with the heads of Renewal in the Spirit (Charismatic) movement and the Neocatechumenal Way.
In a statement released today, Martinez, the President of Renewal in the Spirit in Italy, said that both recalled the national meeting which took place in June at Rome’s Olympic Stadium.
Martinez also stated that the Holy Father expressed his gratitude for the Family of Nazareth International Center, which is run by Renewal in the Spirit. The foundation took part in the recent Synod on the Families, giving out copies of their book “Rosario della Famiglia” (Family Rosary).
“‘Move without caging the Holy Spirit’”, Martinez said, recalling the Pope’s words. The Pope has shown great joy for the commitment of the Movement in translating a new service of missionary responsibility, the pastoral teachings contained in the Apostolic Exhortation “Evangelii Gaudium”.
He also stated that the Pope encouraged the members of Renewal in the Spirit to carry on the “spiritual and social renewal of our time.”
Communities in Mission
Kiko Argüello, founder of the Neocatechumenal Way, met with the Holy Father shortly after in which he explained several new initiatives.
In an interview with Vatican Radio, Argüello said the Pope recognized and appreciated the fruits born of the Way which “do much good for the Church” and “for vocations.”
“I spoke to him about the Communities in mission and of this meeting which we will do to send families in mission from the Way,” he said.
According to its statutes, the Neocatechumenal Way is not a movement or an association, but an itinerary of Catholic formation “in the parishes at the service of the bishop to return to faith many of those who abandoned it.”
“We have roughly 40 communities who have finished the itinerary of the Neocatechumenal Way and offer themselves to the Church to be sent out to the peripheries, to parishes that are in need of help,” Argüello said.
The founder of the Neocatechumenal Way went on to explain that the “communities in mission” help parishes look for those are far from the Church by visiting neighbourhoods in difficult or de-christianized areas. There are currently 15 communities in mission throughout the diocese of Rome who were sent by Pope Benedict XVI on January 10, 2009.
