1. For the Pontifical Council for the Laity, these first few months of Pope Francis’ pontificate have been particularly intense and filled with important events. I would like to say something about just a few of them.
In chronological order, the first important event for us was the Year of Faith meeting between Pope Francis and the lay associations and ecclesial movements. This took place on 18 and 19 May, the Pentecost vigil and solemnity. The Holy Father’s words on that occasion were very important for us because they confirmed continuity in pontifical magisterium regarding the “new season of group endeavours” of the faithful. At a time when reservations can still be felt in the Church in some places with regard to these new movements, the Pope’s words were very clear: “You are a gift and a treasure in the Church! [...] Always convey the power of the Gospel! Do not be afraid! Always feel joy and enthusiasm for communion in the Church! (Angelus, 19 May 2013). The three words emphasised in the Sunday homily will remain fixed in our memories: newness, harmony and mission. They really constitute a programme for the work of our dicastery with ecclesial movements and lay associations. Indeed, we followed up on that event on 27 June when the Pontifical Council for the Laity invited the leaders of various ecclesial movements and new communities to come together to share their reflections on the words of the Holy Father at Pentecost.
2. The second great event in which we were involved was World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro last July. That event was blessed by the Lord in a special way. After 26 years, WYD returned to the Latin-American continent. It had been prepared by Benedict XVI, and it was presided by Pope Francis, the first Latin-American pontiff. This was truly a providential coincidence. It was a wonderful celebration of faith and fellowship. Young people – on this occasion the great majority were from Latin America – responded to the invitation to come in numbers beyond the expectations of the organisers (we think that there were about three million young people gathered in prayer on Copacabana beach!). Above all, they responded with the witness of faith that they gave with joy and courage. The Holy Father and the many bishop catechists planted a huge seed of the gospel which now must be accompanied and helped to grow and to produce abundant fruit. Now it is important for youth ministry to take action and to build bridges between this providential and amazing WYD and the normal life of young people in their parishes and dioceses, and in associations and movements. In other words, each WYD should present a new beginning for ordinary youth ministry in the local Churches. Our dicastery is doing everything possible to increase awareness of this fact. The Pope insists that: “World Youth Days are not ‘firework displays’, flashes of enthusiasm that are an end in themselves; they are the stages of a long journey, begun in 1985, at the initiative of Pope John Paul II. [...] Let us always remember: young people do not follow the Pope, they follow Jesus Christ, bearing his Cross. And the Pope guides them and accompanies them on this journey of faith and hope” (Angelus, 4 August 2013).
3. A respected Vatican correspondent for Le Figaro newspaper (Jean-Marie Guénois, Sommes-nous encore une Église capable de réchauffer le coeur?, 28 July 2013) said that the Rio WYD was a “real new departure” for Pope Francis’ pontificate. Its central point was both his extraordinary ability to converse with young people and to send out a clear message to the whole Church. The article referred in particular to two of the Pope’s speeches made during the Brazil visit: the address to the Brazilian bishops and the address to the coordinating committee of CELAM given in Sumaré Study Centre. Both presented a programme that deserves further reflection because it gives a clear picture of the way Pope Francis wants the Church to go: a Church that journeys together with people; a Church that can warm hearts; a Church with strong marian devotion (Aparecida, a key to understanding the mission of the Church); a Church of the people (popular piety); a Church with strong commitment by the laity; a Church that gives women an active role (“the Church without women is ‘sterile’”); a poor Church that is close to the poor and prepared to go out to the geographical and existential peripheries of the world. This genuine gospel vision of the Church presents the great challenge of a “qualified education” of the laity. “What is needed is a solid human, cultural, effective, spiritual and doctrinal foundation”, the Pope told the Brazilian bishops (27 July 2013). This is an important task for our dicastery. There is a risk of falling into clericalism, a widespread temptation in the Church. The Pope insisted: “ it has to do with a sinful complicity: the priest clericalizes the lay person and the lay person kindly asks to be clericalized, because deep down it is easier. The phenomenon of clericalism explains, in great part, the lack of maturity and Christian freedom in some of the ... laity” ( Meeting with the Coordinating Committee of CELAM, 28 July 2013).
In addition to these two powerful speeches made in Brazil, Pope Francis has spoken about the education of the laity in his morning Masses. With simple yet direct and moving language, he has systematically explained what it means to be a Christian today. He warns us of the danger of becoming “starched” or “lethargic” or of being “museum” or “drawing room” or “perfunctory” Christians without Christ. Today’s post-modern culture, a liquid culture that is so widespread, produces confused and liquid personalities. Christians themselves can tend to limit their participation and sense of belonging to the Church. The Pope’s words give them a concrete programme which has the goal of reinforcing the baptismal identity of the lay faithful. This is an identity that comes forth from belonging to Christ and his Church – the identity of disciples and missionaries of Christ.
