Multiformity and Unity in the Church<br/><br/>
On June 3rd, the eve of Pentecost, over 400000 Catholics gathered at St Peter’s Square and Via della Conciliazione and celebrated, together with Pope Benedict XVI, the works of the Holy Spirit in spiritual movements and new communities. The first such meeting was initiated by the late Pope John Paul II in 1998 on the eve of Pentecost, when 300000 people showed up.<br/><br/>
This year’s event began with some video clips from the 1998 gathering. Then the coordinator of Italy’s Renewal in the Spirit, Salvatore Martinez and one of the founders of Villaregia Missionary Community, Maria Luigia Corona gave the crowd an account of a 3-day conference held earlier: “The Beauty of Being Christians and the Joy of Communicating It”.<br/><br/>
A few pieces of movements-related articles by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (our current Pope) were then read. A couple from Regnum Christi then led the Rosary, and the crowd meditated the third Glorious mystery: The Pentecost<br/><br/>
The crowd prayed the Vespers with the Pope as he arrived. Then a representative of Chiara Lubich, the foundress of the Focolare Movement updated the Pope on the developments of movements and new communities throughout the past 8 years.<br/><br/>
After reading the scriptures, Kiko Arguello, the founder of Neocatchumenal Way, Andrea Riccardi, founder of Community of Sant’Egidio, and Fr. Julian Carron, the president of Communion and Liberation, made some comments on the proclaimed scriptures. After the homily, a few believers started a procession with fire torches in their hands, to commemorat the coming of the Holy Spirit. This was followed by the proclamation of the Apostle’s Creed. Lastly, Luis Fernando Figari, the founder of Christian Life Movement and Patti Gallagher Mansfield, a representative of Catholic Charismatic Renewal said a few words of thanks.<br/><br/>
The Pope pointed out that multiformity and unity are inseparable in the Church.