Pope receives leaders, families of Neocatechumenal Way

Pope Benedict XVI received the leadership of the Neocatechumenal Way on Monday, along with many seminarians and families that are members. The Neocatechumenal Way began in the impoverished suburbs of Madrid in the 1960’s, when the young Spanish artist, Francesco “Kiko” Arguello began to preach the Gospel to people in the slums of Palomeras Altas, together with a lay woman, Carmen Hernandez.

The Neocatechumenate grew and expanded rapidly, becoming an itinerary for the rediscovery of the power and grace of baptism among Christian families living in the rapidly secularizing climate of the contemporary world.

The Way, as it is known colloquially, has a strong missionary ethos.

Many Neocatechumenal families offer to travel to foreign lands to preach the Gospel through the establishment of new Communities of the Neocatechumenate.

In his remarks to the group on Monday, Pope Benedict praised these hundreds of “families in mission”, for their willingness to forego the comforts of friends and familiar surroundings in order to help parishes in difficulty throughout the world.

The Holy Father also thanked the more than 2000 men in formation for the priesthood in the Redemptoris mater seminaries here in Rome and throughout the world, saying they are an eloquent sign of the fruit that can be borne of the rediscovery of Baptismal grace.

Listen to Linda Bordoni's report: