Pope Urges Ecclesial Movements to Keep Jesus at the Centre

Vatican City, 7 June, 2025 – Pope Leo XIV has urged leaders of lay associations, ecclesial movements, and new communities to place Jesus Christ at the heart of their work, reminding them that “charisms are meant to serve this purpose.”

Addressing moderators and delegates of international ecclesial associations during their annual meeting organised by the Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life, the Holy Father emphasised that keeping the Lord at the centre is “the essential thing” in their spiritual and communal journeys.

In his address, the Pope distinguished between two types of ecclesial groups: institutional and charismatic. Institutional groups, he explained, are formed to carry out shared apostolic, charitable, or liturgical missions, while charismatic movements emerge from a spiritual inspiration that sparks new ways of evangelisation and prayer.

Both, Pope Leo stressed, must be viewed through the lens of grace: “The institution exists so that grace may always be offered, and charisms are given so that this grace may be received and bear fruit.”

Quoting St. John Paul II, Pope Leo reiterated the Church’s teaching that both hierarchical and charismatic gifts are “co-essential to the divine constitution of the Church founded by Jesus.”

Turning to the themes of unity and mission, the Pope said these are not only central to the life of the Church but also priorities of the Petrine ministry. He urged all ecclesial associations and movements to support the Pope in promoting unity and furthering the Church’s mission.

“You are called to be a leaven of unity,” he told them, encouraging them to reflect in the wider Church the spirit of unity they cultivate within their own communities.

Reflecting on his own missionary experience, the Pope called on the groups to keep alive their missionary zeal and place their unique gifts “at the service of the Church’s mission.”

Pope Leo concluded by underlining that charisms must lead to a personal encounter with Christ and contribute to building up the Church. He called on the faithful to follow Christ’s example of self-emptying, which, he said, “is a source of freedom and great joy.”

“All are called,” he added, “to enrich others through the emptying of self.”

Courtesy : Vatican News