Catholic World News News Feature

Guard Catholic identity, Pope urges charismatics October 30, 1998

VATICAN (CWNews.com) -- Pope John Paul II today met with over 1,000 leaders of the international charismatic renewal, and urged them to preserve the movement against fideism by ensuring a strong formation in the faith.

The Holy Father cited his recent encyclical Fides et Ratio, stressing that faith cannot be separated from reason, but the two must complement each other. He added that the charismatic leaders have a responsibility to keep their communities fully in communion with the Church. "The enthusiastic faith which gives life to your communities must be accompanied by a sound formation in the Christian faith, faithful to the teachings of the Church," he said. He urged members of the charismatic renewal to "safeguard their Catholic identity" and preserve the proper relationships with their local bishops and with the Holy See.