VATICAN - 2nd International Conference and a series of Prayer Vigils in preparation for Pope Benedict's Pentecost meeting with new Church movements and Communities

Wednesday, 31 May 2006

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - At a press conference to present a meeting which Pope Benedict XVI will have with new Church movements and communities in St. Peter's Square on Saturday June 3, the eve of Pentecost, Archbishop Rylko president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity affirmed that “the appointment which Pope Ratzinger has given Church movements and communities on June 3 - the second such encounter following that of May 30, 1998 - "is an important sign of continuity with the Magisterium of John Paul II, who saw in these new groups precious gifts of the Spirit to today's Church, and a great sign of hope for humanity in our time.” After recalling how Benedict XVI's dealings with ecclesial movements "date back to the mid 1960s when he was still a teacher at Tubingen," the president of the pontifical council highlighted the fact that the Pope "sees in these movements 'powerful ways of living the faith'," and that "his theological contribution to defining the ecclesial identity of the movements is fundamental." Furthermore, the prelate added, "since his election as Pope, Benedict XVI has not ceased to show his concern for ecclesial movements."
For his part, Bishop Josef Clemens, Secretary of the Council explained that the meeting with the Pope will be preceded by two appointments, the 2nd International Conference of Church Movements and New Communities 31 May to 2 June and prayer vigils in the city of Rome in the evening of 2 June. The Conference organised by the Pontifical Council for the Laity will be held at Rocca di Papa outside Rome and will have the theme ”The Beauty of being Christians and the joy of sharing it with others” inspired by the Pope Benedict XVI’s homily at the mass for the beginning of his pontificate. The three principal contributions will be presented by Cardinals Christoph Schonborn O.P., Marc Ouellet P.S.S., and Angelo Scola. They will consider Christological questions (Christ, the most beautiful of Adam's sons), ecclesiological questions (The beauty of being Christian), and pastoral matters (Church movements and new communities in the mission of the Church: priorities and prospects). Round table discussions will provide an opportunity to consider two fundamental aspects of the activity of movements and new communities: educational work, and bearing witness to the beauty of Christ in today's world. For logistical reasons the number of participants will be limited to little more than 300, representing more than 100 movements and new communities.
Bishop Clemens continued: "The organization of prayer vigils in Rome has been left to the initiative of the individual movements and communities, but we have given a twofold purpose: spiritual preparation for the members of the different groups for the meeting the next day with the Pope and a gesture of the city for the city of Rome. Besides a massive presence of main international movements all kinds of lay groups of diocesan and national will gather round the Holy Father”, said Bishop Clemens, adding “The enthusiasm and efforts of Catholics in countries very distant from Rome is admirable. It is expected that 300,000 people will participate in the event, most of them from Italy, although 30,000 faithful are on the move in Europe, of whom 4,000 from Germany. Five thousand participants are expected from Latin America, 450 from Africa, 300 from Asia and 100 from the Church in Oceania which evidently lives this as a step in preparation for World Youth Day in Sydney in 2008," the bishop said.”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 31/5/2006 - righe 45, parole 647)


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