Vatican
City, 15 May 2013
(VIS) – This morning in the Holy See Press Office a conference was
held to present the Pentecost Vigil at which ecclesial movements will
participate in for the 50th anniversary of the beginning
of Vatican Council II. Speaking at the conference, Archbishop Rino
Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New
Evangelization, noted that, to effectively celebrate the Year of
Faith, it was not possible to overlook a gathering with the ecclesial
realities, which are one of the Council's most evident results.
“In
organizing the Year of Faith,” Archbishop Fisichella said, “we
hoped to create a moment of encounter, of prayer, exchange, and
listening that would allow us to live and to continue along the path
of the new evangelization with as much strength and motivation. …
The objective and the purpose remain identical and common for all: to
bring the joy of the Gospel to every person.”
“Over
120,000 people, in fact, have signalled their attendance. Around 150
different ecclesial realities coming from [around the world] are
registered … attesting to the fact that the Church's catholicity
knows no boundaries.”
Under
the slogan, “I Believe! Increase our Faith”, the gathering will
begin with a pilgrimage for the various groups to the tomb of St.
Peter throughout the morning of 18 May starting from 7:00am. Then, at
3:00pm, a welcoming ceremony with reflection, music, and testimonials
will be held in St. Peter's Square.
Of
particular note, the famous Gen Verde group and a choir of over 150
singers belonging to the various movements will accompany those
gathered until 6:00pm when the Holy Father Francis will join the
celebration with a moment of prayer in front of the image of the
Virgin Mary Salus Populi Romani.
The
event will continue with two very meaningful testimonials from the
Irish writer and editorialist John Waters and the Pakistani surgeon
Paul Batthi. After that, representatives of the movements will ask
the Holy Father some questions, which he will respond to
spontaneously.
Among
those present there will also be a large number of people with
various disabilities, the parents of a child killed in the earthquake
in L'Aquila, Italy, and Italian politicians belonging to the
Communion and Liberation movement.
The
event will conclude with the celebration of Mass, presided by Pope
Francis, on Sunday, 19 May, at 10:00am in St. Peter's Square.
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