Preparing for a Pentecost Vigil

At 12:30pm today, in the John Paul II Hall at the Holy See Press Office, a press conference was held to present certain details concerning the next Year of Faith event: the Day of Movements, new Communities, Associations and Lay groups, which will take place this coming weekend, May 18 and 19.

Details about this meeting were provided by His Excellency, Salvatore Fisichella, President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization; and His Excellency, José Octavio Ruiz Arenas, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization.

Intervention prepared by His Excellency, Salvatore Fisichella

President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelizaton

On the fiftieth anniversary of the start of the Second Vatican Council we could not fail to effectively celebrate the ' Year of Faith , especially with a meeting of the Eeclesial realities that are one of the most evident results of the Council. We chose the eve of Pentecost because it was immediately evident that the presence of the Movements in the Church today, new communities of lay associations and ecclesial groups are a sign of the presence of the Spirit of the Risen Christ who guides his Church in the work of evangelization. To understand this significance, we need only look briefly at some of the most significant texts of Vatican II such as the Constitution on the Church, Lumen gentium , and the decree on the Apostolate of the Laity, Apostolicam actuositatem in order to verify the impulse that the council wanted to give to lay Christians, enlivening them  with enthusiasm and strength to resume their presence in the modern world. The study of these issues in the Synod of 1987, which resulted in the Apostolic Exhortation of Blessed John Paul II, Christifideles laici, is further confirmation of efforts which in recent decades have been dedicated to the great and courageous commitment of lay people in the Church and, with the Church in today's world. The last Synod on the New Evangelization and the transmission of the faith, finally found expressions of great recognition for the invaluable work that has been realized in different parts of the world in a wide range of services in which the Church is present.

In the organization of the Year of Faith , it was not only right that we should make room for the diverse and varied voices of so many ecclesial realities, but above all we wanted to create a moment of encounter, prayer, sharing and listening that would allow them to live and continue with the same strength and motivation on the path of the new evangelization. All these realities, in fact, express full commitment to the new evangelization and are part of the desire of John Paul II on the basis of their actions and the reasons for the Church's daily witness of faith. The names vary, methodologies and tools that express the richness of the Spirit distributed in the charisms of each initiator also differ, but the goal and purpose remain the same and common to all: to bring the joy of the Gospel to every person. We must witness with great joy that the response of the movements, new communities, associations and lay groups to our invitation was almost immediate and was quickly expressed as generous and widespread. There are already more than 120,000 people who have expressed their intention to attend this coming weekend. Registrations to date have been received from about 150 different ecclesial realities from Italy, Argentina, Belarus, Brazil, Congo, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Lithuania, Malta, Mexico, New Zealand, Poland, Puerto Rico, Slovakia, Spain, United States, Switzerland, Trinidad, Tobago and many other countries ... certainly there will be representation from all the continents attesting to the Catholicity of the Church that knows no boundaries.

The program of events for next weekend is based on a theme which was chosen to be the focus of our meeting: I believe! Increase our faith. Personal pronouns attest to the underlying meaning. Everyone in the faith is called to speak in the first person his adherence to Christ and the Church. It's a free and personal choice that involves the confirmation of baptismal faith. Many young men and women in these ecclesial realities have often found in them not a faith that has been lost or wandered away from or one that has become sterile and indifferent ... but they have often made a true conversion of life. Faith, however, is also a Community act. And a we that relies on the value of the community that is in the first place, the Church, which is made visible in the various areas that are ways and means to express faith. Expressions such as I think, and the demand to grow together as a we in the faith express the diversity and unity of the various participants.

The meeting will take place mainly on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday at 7am will represent the beginning for many groups who will come in pilgrimage to the tomb of Peter in the manner that has already been tested in the previous events. At 3:00pm in Saint Peter's Square, there will be the time of reception of a reflection with music and testimonies. The presence of the famous group Gen Verde will be of particular attention. The management for this part of the program is entrusted to Lorena Bianchetti and the choir that will animate this time period was composed for the occasion by about 150 people chosen from different movements. Seven testimonials will enrich this time of waiting for the Holy Father, who will arrive at 6:00pm. The presence of Pope Francis will be marked by an initial moment of prayer with the enthronement of the image of the Virgin Mary Salus Populi Romani and by listening to the Word of God, followed by two very significant testimonies.

The first, by John Waters, Irish writer and columnist.  He started his career in journalism with the most important Irish political-music magazine, Hot Press.  And one of the greatest connoisseurs of contemporary music, he now writes regularly for The Irish Times , Mail on Sunday and has written plays for theatre and radio, along with several books. Among these works, most deserving of special mention are Lapsed Agnostic (2008) and Beyond Consolation (2010) where he narrated his newfound faith after years of darkness.

The second witness will be that of Paul Batthi, a Pakistani surgeon. Graduated from the University of Padua, he practiced as a physician first in Pakistan and then in Italy until 2011, the year in which, as we know, his brother Shahbaz was killed.  Shahbaz was a minister for the minority government in Islamabad. In that same year Paul Batthi was appointed Special Advisor for National Harmony of the Prime Minister of Pakistan. And leader of the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance . After this testimony, which reflects the experience of the new evangelization, Pope Francis will spontaneously respond to some questions that will be addressed to him by representatives regarding present realities.

I would like to mention that among the people present, there will be several people with disabilities, some of which will also set up a translation service in sign language for deaf people. Also present will be the parents of a young man named Francis who died under the rubble of a Student House in the L'Aquila earthquake and a large group of Italian Parliamentarians who for several years have gathered to meet their school community and friends, a true expression of Communion and Liberation.

The Holy Mass of Pentecost will be celebrated by Pope Francis on Sunday, May 19 at 10.30 am, followed by the traditional Regina Caeli which will take place in St. Peter's Square.