Pope to meet with Catholic Lay Movements. More than 120,000 expected

May 16, 2013. (Romereports.com) On Saturday May18th and Sunday 19th, Pope Francis will meet with leaders and members of different lay movements. The meeting is a way to recognize their contributions to the Church and to mark the Year of Faith. Those two days will be quite busy. Roughly 120,000 tickets have already been given out for the Pope's Pentecost Sunday Mass.

ARCH. RINO FISICHELLA
President, Pontifical Council for New Evangelization
“We chose this weekend when we celebrate Pentecost to highlight the presence of all these movements, new communities, lay associations and all the different ecclesial roles that are present within the Church. They are signs that reflect the presence of the Risen Spirit of Christ, that guides the Church in Her work of evangelizing.”

Over 150 different movements from all over the world will gather in Rome over the weekend.
Among them will be Catholic Action, Communion and Liberation, the Focolare Movement, the Community of St. Egidio and the Neocatechumenal Way. Other more recent movements that were born in the U.S, Argentina, Brazil, Congo, India and Trinidad will also be present.

The meeting will start of on Saturday afternoon in St. Peter's Square, where all the movements are invited. Musical group Gen Verde will be playing during the massive gathering.

ARCH. RINO FISICHELLA
President, Pontifical Council for New Evangelization
“Once Pope Francis arrives, we will mark the beginning of the gathering with a prayer. We will then pay homage to Our Lady Salus Populi Romani followed by a Gospel reading.”

Then on Sunday, again thousands are expected in St. Peter's Square. There will be a special seating section for the sick. There will also be a sign language interpreter for the deaf so that everyone can join in the celebration.