Pope Francis met with memebers of the Neocatechumenal Way, affectionately known as The Way, in the Paul VI Audience Hall of the Vatican. The Pope entered using a cane as members sang and cheered.
Pope Francis did not use a wheelchair and he was in good spirits as he greeted Kiko Argüello, the initiator of the Neocatechumenal Way. Argüello was eager to speak to the Pope about the 430 families who will soon leave on mission and who were waiting a papal blessing.
KIKO ARGÜELLO
Initiator of the Neocatechumenal Way
Faced with secularization, atheism, the crisis of moral, cultural and philosophical values, it is certainly wonderful that the Lord has called entire families with their children to emigrate and settle in the most secularized and poorest areas to bring the message of Jesus Christ.
Argüello introduced the Pope to the families going on mission in Russia and Ukraine. He also announced that the cause for the beatification of Carmen Hernandez will officially open very soon.
The members prayed for the intercession of the Holy Spirit and listened to the day's Gospel reading.
Pope Francis then described the history of evangelization. He said that multicultural richness is something unique within the Catholic Church. It is a value that the Neocatechumenal Way places great emphasis on.
POPE FRANCIS
All are equal in the faith, God the father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Son who became incarnate, died and rose for us. The Spirit that helps and makes you grow, it's all the same faith. But each carries out the faith in their own way, their own culture or the culture of the place where they will preach the faith.
Pope Francis also asked the families to be obedient and to do everything in communion with the bishops wherever they go.
POPE FRANCIS
Do all within and with the Church; nothing outside the Church. This is the spirituality that you must bring with you always. Preach Jesus Christ with the power of the Spirit in the Church and with the Church.
Finally, the Pope blessed the crucifixes of those present and several families went up to greet him on behalf of the entire Neocatechumenal Way. The Pope's last meeting with the group was on May 4, 2018 to celebrate fifty years of the movement. Now, the Way is present in 134 countries.
RM
TR: KG
