PAPAL MESSAGE TO MEETING OF MOVEMENTS, ECCLESIAL COMMUNITIES

VATICAN CITY, JUN 8, 1999 (VIS) - Made public this afternoon was a Message from Pope John Paul to the participants in the international meeting of movements and new ecclesial communities, taking place in Speyer, Germany. The encounter was organized by Chiara Lubich, foundress of the Focolare Movement, Andrea Riccardi of the Sant'Egidio Community and Salvatore Martinez, Italian national coordinator of the Renewal in the Holy Spirit.

In this Message, dated June 3, the Pope writes: "It is wonderful and gives joy to see how movements and new communities feel the need to concentrate on ecclesial communion and are making efforts through concrete gestures to communicate to one other the gifts they have received, to support one other in difficulties, and to cooperate in order to face together the challenges of the new evangelization."

He also highlighted the "fruits of conversion, of spiritual rebirth and of holiness that the movements bring to the life of the local Churches."

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