On the 30th May 2026, Pope Leo XIV delivered a powerful and encouraging message to the global Catholic Charismatic Renewal during the CHARIS gathering in Rome. His words affirmed the mission of evangelisation, unity, and the life of the Spirit at the heart of our movement. Two of our A&B CDSC team were present to personally witness his address.
Pope Leo’s address highlighted the “spiritual vitality” of the movement and focused on five key aspects of the Charismatic Renewal:
- Baptism in the Spirit: He compared the charismatic experience to St. Augustine’s conversion, noting that it turns God from an idea into a real, personal experience.
- Prayer of Praise: He commended them for bringing spontaneous dialogue, worship, and praise back to the forefront of Christian prayer.
- The Word of God: He praised their living encounter with Sacred Scripture, which acts as a daily guide and comforting spiritual nourishment.
- Communion: He described the Holy Spirit as the “wellspring of communion” and urged the community to foster harmony across all charisms and Christian denominations.
- Charity: He noted the Spirit awakens a new capacity to love and serve those who are suffering, urging them to keep alive their love for the poor.
He concluded by encouraging the Renewal to faithfully serve in their local dioceses and parishes, explicitly warning them “never to give way to the desire for self-promotion, or the pursuit of power or personal prestige.”
You can watch the full address here