Vatican: Papa Leo XIV to ecclesial movements: God raises charisms to awaken the desire of the encounter with Christ

Pope Leo XIV affirmed that God raises the charisms of ecclesial movements and new communities to awaken “in hearts the desire of the encounter with Christ, the thirst of divine life he offers us”, at the audience with the moderators and delegates of these groups.

This was said by the Pope in the framework of the Jubilee of the movements, associations and new communities, one of the most significant citations of the Holy Year of Hope 2025, which brings together some 70,000 people in Rome, in this event organized by the Dicasterio for the laity, family and life.

The Holy Father offered those present in the Vatican, who represent thousands of faithful worldwide, A deep reflection on various essential aspects of the life of these groups.

The gift of associative life

At the beginning of their speech before the representatives of 115 “ecclesial aggregations recognized or erected by the Holy See”, Pope León stressed that they are “very diverse, by nature and by history, and all are important for the Church. Some were born to share an apostolic, charitable or cult purpose, or to support Christian testimony in specific social environments.”

“Others, on the other hand, were born from a charismatic inspiration, from an initial charism that gave rise to a movement, a new form of spirituality and evangelization,” he added.

“In the will to associate, which gave rise to the first type of aggregations, we find an essential characteristic: no one is a Christian alone! We are part of a people, of a body that the Lord has constituted,” said the Pontiff.

“The Christian life is not lived in isolation, as if it were an intellectual or sentimental adventure, confined to our mind and our heart. You live with others, in a group, in community, because Christ resurrected is present among the disciples gathered in his name,” he said.

The charisms

By meditating on the charisms, Pope Leo XIV invited those present to consider them “in reference to grace, to the gift of the spirit. Everything in the Church is understood in reference to grace: the institution exists so that grace is always offered, the charisms arise so that this grace is welcomed and fruit”.

Without the charisms, he continued, “there is a risk that the grace of Christ, offered in abundance, does not find a conducive ground to receive it. That is why God raises the charisms, so that they wake up in the hearts the desire of the encounter with Christ, the thirst of divine life that He offers us, in a word, grace!”

“Thanks to the charisms that have raised your movements and communities, many people have approached Christ, have found hope in life, have discovered the motherhood of the Church, and wish to be helped to grow in faith, in community life, in charity works, and take others, through evangelization, the gift they have received.”

Unity and Mission in Union with the Pope

Leo XIV also stressed that “Unity and Mission are two cornerstones in the life of the Church, and two priorities in the Petrino Ministry. Therefore, I invite all associations and ecclesial movements to collaborate faithfully and generously with the Pope especially in these two areas.”

In the first place, “being a ferment of unity. Everyone continuously experiences the spiritual communion that unites them. It is the communion that the Holy Spirit creates in the Church. It is a unity that has its foundation in Christ: He attracts us, attracts us to himself, and that is why he also unites us among us.”

Pope León then encouraged to extend the unity “everywhere: in communion with the shepherds of the Church, in the vicinity with other ecclesial realities, being close to the people you find, so that your charisms are always at the service of the unity of the Church and be they themselves ‘ferment of unity, communion and fraternity’ in the world so torn by discord and violence”.

The call to the mission

After remembering that he himself was a missionary in Peru, Pope León told those present that “from his encounter with the Lord, of the new life that invaded your hearts, the desire to make it known to others was born. And they have involved many people, dedicated a lot of time, enthusiasm, energy to publicize the gospel in the farthest places, in the most difficult environments, supporting difficulties and failures.”

“Always keep this missionary zeal alive among you: the movements still play a fundamental role in evangelization. Among you there are generous people, well formed and with experience ‘in the field’. It is a heritage that must be fructified, remaining attentive to today’s reality with their new challenges.”

Leo XIV then encouraged to put “his talents at the service of the mission, both in the places of first evangelization and in the parishes and local ecclesial structures, to reach so many that are far away and sometimes without knowing it, they expect the word of life.”

Jesus in the center of everything

“Always keep the Lord Jesus in the center! This is the essential, and the charisms in themselves serve to do so. The charism is functional to meet Christ, to human and spiritual maturation and maturation of the people, to the building of the Church,” said the Holy Father.

In this sense, “we are all called to imitate Christ, who stripped himself to enrich ourselves (Flp 2, 7). Thus, who pursues an apostolic end with others or who is the bearer of a charism is called to enrich others by stripping of himself. And this is a source of freedom and of great joy.”