Encountering Christ is foundational, Pope tells Communion and Liberation members

March 09, 2015

An estimated 80,000 members of Communion and Liberation gathered in St. Peter’s Square on March 7 to hear an address by Pope Francis for the occasion of 60th anniversary of the movement’s founding and the 10th anniversary of the death of its founder, Msgr. Luigi Giussani.

Pope Francis expressed gratitude for the influence Msgr. Giussani’s writings have exercised upon his priesthood, particularly his emphasis on the centrality of the encounter with the Person of Christ, who precedes us with his grace and has mercy on sinners.

Christian morality, Pope Francis continued, is not a “titanic, voluntaristic effort”: it is “not never falling, but always getting up” to be embraced by Christ and his mercy, which leads us to change and live a different kind of life.

The Pontiff urged members of Communion and Liberation to keep Christ at the center of their movement, to guard against a petrified complacency, and to “serve Jesus in every marginalized person.”

 

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Further information:

• Incontro con le Comunità di Comunione e Liberazione (Holy See Press Office)
• Pope Francis receives Communion and Liberation members (Vatican Radio)
• Audience with Pope Francis (Communion and Liberation)
• Audience with Communion and Liberation members - 2015.03.07 (Vatican YouTube)