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July 3 - Evangelizing evangelicals – why Pope Francis loves to meet with charismatic movements
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June 26 - Papal Mass in Philadelphia expected to draw 1.5 million pilgrims / Rick Warren to speak at Catholic Conference in Philadelphia when Pope visits USA
Articles: Ecumenical Movement - Protestants Uniting With Roman Catholics

Evangelizing Evangelicals
This varied presence aligns with Pope Francis’ commitment to ecumenism. Beyond the recently opened dialogue with Orthodox and Anglican Churches, the Evangelical world is a big challenge for ecumenism, and perhaps one of the most important ones.  Dialogue with evangelical groups, especially Pentecostals, has been called “the fourth ecumenism” by several authors, including the Catholic sociologist Massimo Introvigne, an international authority on religious sects. According to Introvigne, the fourth ecumenism – that of the new Protestant sects born at the beginning of the 20th century – is perhaps the most fruitful ground for ecumenical dialogue.

Attempts at such dialogue have limits: for example, a search for parties to represent the Pentecostals. Although they make up three-quarters of Protestants in some parts of the world and as much as one-third of all Christians, Pentecostals are very fragmented. The diversity within the group presents difficulties for dialogue. This might be why Pope Francis has chosen to foster dialogue specifically with individuals and small groups.

On July 28, 2014, the Pope paid a private visit to the evangelical pastor Giovanni Traettino’s Church in Caserta. The two had met in 2006 and have maintained good relations ever since. That meeting came at the end of a series of meetings Pope Francis had with evangelical leaders in 2014.

 

Papal Mass in Philadelphia
 More than 1.5 million people are expected for the Mass with Pope Francis in Philadelphia this September, said organisers of the next World Meeting of Families. As of June 15, about 12,000 people were registered for the September 22-25 congress, which will feature dozens of speakers on an array of issues affecting family life, Archbishop Chaput said. Held every three years in a different city, this year’s theme is “Love is Our Mission: The Family Fully Alive.”
 
Auxiliary Bishop John McIntyre of Philadelphia, told reporters about the variety of themes – both theological and practical – that will be covered by congress speakers, including talks that will address new technologies, ecology, fertility and dealing with marriage breakups. Some of the speakers listed include Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila, Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston and Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments. Fr Robert Barron and Scott Hahn, as well as Reverend Rick Warren and Rabbi Abraham Skorka, are slated among the speakers.
 
Underlining the ecumenical and interfaith element of the meeting, Archbishop Chaput said 30 per cent of the speakers would be non-Catholic.

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