On Saturday, May 5, in Tor Vergata, Rome, and 150,000 people are expected.
Rome, 04/19/2018 – Next Saturday May 5, the Neocatechumenal Way will celebrate a great international gathering in Rome on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of its arrival in Rome, after its beginnings in Madrid in the late 1960s. 60.
The meeting will begin at 11 in the morning and will be presided by Pope Francis, who showed his enthusiasm when receiving the proposal a few months ago from the initiator and international responsible for the Way, Kiko Argüello.
The chosen place is Tor Vergata, a university area located on the outskirts of Rome, in homage to Saint John Paul II, who throughout his 26 years of pontificate, welcomed and supported the Way. The unforgettable World Day of the Youth (WYD) was celebrated there also in the year 2000.
About 150 thousand people from all over the world and from the 5 continents will participate, and the 135 nations in which the Way is established, in addition to cardinals, bishops and other persons.
The meeting will also be a reason for thanksgiving for the love and fidelity of God in these years, Pope Francis will send 36 new missio ad gentes that, at the request of many other bishops, will evangelize in secularized areas or with little presence of the Church, in cities around the world.
Francis will also send 20 communities from the parishes of Rome – who have completed this Christian initiation – to others on the outskirts of the city whose pastors have asked for his help to call those far from the faith.
The meeting, which will end with singing of the “Te Deum” as thanksgiving for these 50 years, will be conducted by the international team of the Neocatechumenal Way, Kiko Argüello, Father Mario Pezzi and Maria Ascensión Romero, who recently became a part of it.
Carmen Hernández, co-initiator of the Neocatechumenal Way with Kiko, who died on July 19, 2016, will be remembered in a very special way.
Audience with Pope Francis
This Thursday, April 19, Pope Francis received the international team responsible for the Neocatechumenal Way at 11:30 am in the Apostolic Palace of the Vatican.
The main objective of the meeting was speak about the 50th anniversary of the Way that will be commemorated with a great gathering presided by the Pope in Tor Vergata on May 5.
During the meeting, the Pontiff gave thanks for the good that the Way is doing to the Church and showed his joy in knowing that he will send 36 new missio ad gentes to the whole world, in addition to 20 communities in mission that will go to the outskirts of Rome.
Among other topics, they spoke about evangelization and the missionary work that the Way is carrying out.
Kiko introduced the Holy Father to María Ascensión Romero, who, at the request of the Holy See, and as established in the statutes, completes the team in the absence of Carmen Hernández, who died on July 19, 2016.