POPE BENEDICT XVI on New Evangelization and Charisms in Ecclesial Movements

Back in December 2000, then Cardinal Ratzinger, in his address to Catechists and Religion Teachers
expounds on the need for “New Evangelization”:

“…This is why we are searching for, along with permanent and uninterrupted and never to be interrupted evangelization, a new evangelization, capable of being heard by that world that does not find access to ‘classic’ evangelization. Everyone needs the Gospel; the Gospel is destined to all and not only to a specific circle and this is why we are obliged to look for new ways of bringing the Gospel to all.”

Eight years forward to this month, at the conclusion of the seminar of the Pontifical Council for the Laity on ecclesial movements last May 17, Pope Benedict XVI exhorts the 150 bishop participants:

.. “Go out to meet with much love the movements and new communities; let us make an effort to know their reality adequately, without superficial impressions or reductive judgments.”..

.."It also helps us to understand that the ecclesial movements and new communities are not a problem or an extra risk that further weighs on our grave duties.”..

..“No! They are a gift of the Lord, a precious resource to enrich our whole Christian community with their charisms. Thus, a confident welcome that gives space to and values their contributions in the life of the local Churches must not be lacking.”..

..“Those who are called to the service of discernment and leadership, should not lord it over the charisms, but should rather beware of the danger of suffocating them, resisting the temptation to make uniform that which the Spirit willed to be multiform to concur in the building up and the enlargement of the one Body of Christ, that the same Spirit makes firm in unity.”..

One cannot help but be moved everytime Pope Benedict XVI speaks.
One simply realizes he is the Vicar of Christ right now for purposeful reasons just when the Church needs him most.
Talk about heaven sent.