Pope encourages Neocatechumenal Way leaders to be witnesses of unity

Pope Leo XIV meets Kiko Argüello, co-founder of the Neocatechumenal Way @Vatican Media

Source: Vatican Media

Pope Leo XIV met with leaders of Neocatechumenal Way on Monday morning. He thanked them for their witness and work in spreading the Gospel around the world and encouraged them to promote unity and avoid rigidity and moralism.

"Strive forward in joy and humility, without closing yourselves off, as builders and witnesses of communion," he said. "The Church accompanies you, supports you, and is grateful for what you do."

The Neocatechumenal Way is a Catholic formation program founded in Spain in the 1960s by Kiko Argüello and Carmen Hernández. It is made up of small communities that follow an itinerary of rediscovery of our baptism and ongoing formation in the faith.

Today, it is present in 139 countries across the world, with over 20,000 communities. Hundreds of people were present at the meeting with the Pope in the Hall of Blessings, including bishops, priests, and other members and representatives of the Way, along with the international team that currently leads the group: Kiko Argüello, María Ascensión Romero, and Father Mario Pezzi.

Pope Leo XIV began by highlighting the missionary charism that characterizes the Neocatechumenal Way, saying it is "a precious contribution to the life of the Church."

He thanked and encouraged especially the families of the Way who, "responding to the inner prompting of the Spirit, leave the security of ordinary life and set out on mission, even to distant and difficult territories, with the sole desire to proclaim the Gospel and be witnesses of God's love."

He emphasized how the "itinerant teams made up of families, catechists, and priests participate in the evangelizing mission of the whole Church."

They "contribute to 'awakening' the faith of 'non-Christians who have never heard of Jesus Christ,' but also of many baptized Christians who, despite being Christians, 'have forgotten' who Jesus Christ was," Pope Leo explained, citing Pope Francis' 2015 address to the group.

"You have rekindled the fire of the Gospel where it seemed to be dying out, and you have accompanied many individuals and Christian communities, reawakening them to the joy of faith, helping them rediscover the beauty of knowing Jesus, and fostering their spiritual growth and commitment to witness," said Pope Leo.

Pope Leo then invited the members to practice "inner vigilance and a wise critical capacity, in order to discern certain risks that are always lurking in spiritual and ecclesial life."

He underlined that the sacrament of Baptism unites us to Christ and "makes us living members of his body, his one people, his one family," and that "if the Spirit grants each one a particular manifestation," it is for the mission of the Church.

"Charisms must always be placed at the service of the kingdom of God and of the one Church of Christ, in which no gift of God is more important than other - except charity, which perfects and harmonizes them all - and no ministry should become a reason to feel superior to one's brothers and sisters and to exclude those who think differently," the Pope explained.

He thus encouraged the members of the Neocatechumenal Way to be "witnesses of this unity."

"Your mission is unique, but not exclusive; your charism is specific, but it bears fruit in communion with the other gifts present in the life of the Church; you do much good, but its purpose is to enable people to know Christ, always respecting each person's life journey and conscience," the Pope said.

He urged them to live their spirituality without separating themselves from the rest of the ecclesial body and be a part "of the ordinary pastoral care of parishes and their various realities, in full communion with your brothers and sisters, and in particular with priests and bishops."

Citing St Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians, Pope Leo highlighted that the Church reminds everyone "that 'where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom'."

"Therefore, the proclamation of the Gospel, catechesis, and various forms of pastoral action must always be free from constraint, rigidity, and moralism, so that they do not give rise to feelings of guilt and fear instead of inner liberation," he said.

He concluded his speech by giving his blessing and thanking the group for their commitment, "joyful witness," and service to the Church and the world, encouraging them "to continue with enthusiasm."