( 03 June 2006 RV) St Peter's square and surrounding streets were packed to capacity
this Saturday evening, as over 350,000 people withstood long queues and strong winds
to greet Pope Benedict XVI. It was the Pentecost Vigil and the congregation had
a special appointment with the Holy Father, they were there in representation of over
100 lay ecclesial movements and new communities. Families, entire parishes, priests,
religious and lay held banners in the wind announcing their membership of groups such
as The International Foccolari Movement, The Neocatechumenal Way, Communion and Liberation,
but to name a few. They had started pouring into the square in the early hours
of the morning and by lunch every available space had been filled. Events officaly
started after 4 pm Rome time, with a series of prayers and song, interspersed with
video clips of founders, such as Jean Vanier of L'Arche, speaking about how and why
they were moved to create these communities within the Church. Emer Mccarthy was
there, she spoke with the Marcarelli family, Father Mother and two lively daughters
from Connecticut USA, who are members of the Regnum Christi. She asked them why they
became members of their movement....