There has been ongoing dialogue for many years between the Pontifical Council for the Laity and ecclesial movements and new communities. There is a network of contacts and meetings, and there are periodic gatherings in assembly, such as the one held on Thursday 27 June 2013 in the PCL aula magna. It has become customary to hold annual meetings for founders, leaders or delegates of these groups at an international level. They come to the Pontifical Council for the Laity for reflection and sharing and to discuss new topics and the challenges they face in the field of evangelisation and the building up of the universal Church.

There were sixty three participants on this occasion. They represented thirty two ecclesial organisations, and they came from Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and Brazil to form a little “cenacle” in the PCL office, an expression used by Cardinal Rylko in his words of address. He compared it to the larger “cenacle” in Saint Peter’s Square at Pentecost when lay movements, associations and new communities met with Pope Francis in one of the most popular gatherings taking place during the Year of Faith. The president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity spoke at length about this event of 18 and 19 May 2013 (see the PDF text below), and he pointed to what was said by the Pope on that occasion. However, he spoke first about the two great events that had happened prior to that meeting: Benedict XVI’s resignation from the papacy and the election of the new pontiff.

Cardinal Rylko reminded us of the words Pope Francis addressed to the lay associations, ecclesial movements and new communities during the Pentecost vigil and, in particular, during Mass on Pentecost Sunday. Cardinal Rylko said that the Pope’s words were a “policy statement” well structured around the three words newness, harmony and mission with each point concluded with specific questions.
 
At the end of his address, a discussion began, but there was little time to develop it further. The cardinal said that this was a discussion that remains open, and he asked for written contributions to be sent in view of future gatherings of this kind.

The meeting concluded with information about the organisation of the upcoming WYD in Rio de Janeiro. Gratitude was expressed to the international movements and new communities that have been responding enthusiastically since 1984 when John Paul II invited them to help with World Youth Day. They have helped to bring it to where it is today.