50th Anniversary of the Foundation of the Neocatechumenal Way

“The Risen Jesus says: ‘Make disciples’. This is the mission. He does not say: conquer, occupy, but rather, ‘make disciples’, that is, share with others the gift you have received, the encounter of love that has changed your life.”, Pope Francis described with these words, in his address to the members of the Neocatechumenal Way gathered on the esplanade of Tor Vergata, the “heart of the mission” which consists in “bearing witness that God loves us and that with Him it true love is possible, the love that leads us to give life everywhere, in the family, at work, as consecrated persons and as spouses.” The mission, Francis continued, “is to return disciples, with the new disciples of Jesus. It is to rediscover part of a disciple Church,” because “is a teacher, but she cannot be a teacher if first she is not a disciple, just as she cannot be a mother if first she is not a daughter. This is our Mother: a humble Church, daughter of the Father and disciple of the Master, happy to be the sister of humanity”. “This dynamic of discipleship – the disciple who makes disciples – is totally different from proselytism”, the Pope underscored: “Here lies the strength of proclamation, so that the world may believe. What counts is not convincing arguments, but the life that attracts; not the ability to impose oneself, but the courage to serve.” “And you have in your ‘DNA’ this vocation to proclaim, living as a family, following the example of the Holy Family: in humility, simplicity and praise”, said Francis, rendering homage to the charism of the Way founded by Kiko Arguello: “You bring this family atmosphere into so many desolate and unconcerned places. Let yourselves be recognized as the friends of Jesus. Call everyone your friends and be friends to all.”