Pope Francis has told 2400 representatives of the worldwide Cursillo Movement to meet and encourage each other “now the pandemic is passing”.
“We are reminded of the admonition in the Letter to the Hebrews, ‘not neglecting to meet together … but encouraging one another’,” the pontiff told those present which included international guests gathered for the Italian Ultreya at Paul VI Auditorium at the Vatican, including representatives of the Asia Pacific Group from Australia.
The gathering took place on May 28, but now, four months later international health experts have publicly declared greater certainty that COVID-19 is on the way out.
“It is a great grace to have brothers and friends in the faith to support each other and keep alive the love for Christ, the foundation of everything, and to share it with others,” Pope Francis said.
Australian Cursillo Movement and Asia Pacific Group Spiritual Advisor, Fr John Armstrong, attended the Cursillo gathering with APG president Margaret Morris and vice-president Peter McMahon from Brisbane.
Fr Armstrong said the Pope also warned against personal ambition that led to leaders staying in office too long.
“No one is eternal in authority,” Pope Francis said.
“So many movements have died out because of the temptation of eternalising offices — keeping the same person in a given role.”
A change and renewal of leadership, the pontiff said, is necessary “to counteract personal ambitions, which are inspired by the devil”.
“May the Holy Spirit, through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, keep you always on the move, never still, always on the move, always ready to go further, towards communion and towards mission, and always in service, not scrambling for office,” Pope Francis said.
He also discussed the meaning of the Spanish word “ultreya,” which means to go further or go beyond.
The Pope reminded the Cursillistas that ultreyas are not organisational meetings, not the “board of directors” of a company, but “fraternal gatherings to rediscover the motivation and the impetus of faith, that you have all experienced since the first Cursillo in which you participated and which turned your lives around”.
Cursillo weekends and regular meetings, the Pope said, help members go beyond “a purely horizontal, earthly and materialistic view of life” and recognise how faith in Christ can impact every part of their lives and every relationship.
“Too often”, Pope Francis said, “out of laziness, out of inertia, out of timidness, we are quick to lose the outlook of faith and conform to the mentality of the world, which extinguishes all zeal and all desire to remain faithful to the Lord and to bring Him to others.”
The experience of faith, the pope told the Italian Ultreya, should move all members toward a greater communion in their small groups, their parishes, their national Cursillo groups and the church at large.
“Your groups and your whole movement, in fact, are not ‘beside’ the church, but are also part of the church living in that territory.”
Members of the movement, like all Christians, also are called to be “missionary disciples,” and that requires creativity, Pope Francis said.
Thinking or saying, “it has always been done this way,” he said, “is not a Christian criterion.”
Fr John said Pope Francis had also commented that Cursillistas have a particular charism.
“The Pope said the charism has led us to rediscover and know how to proclaim in a simple and direct way the essential of the Christian experience, that is God’s love for every man and woman.
“Pope Francis said the Cursillo movement gives members knowledge on how to convey this proclamation within the bonds of friendship and closeness established without pressure, with so many people you meet, even those with stronger personalities who seem indifferent or even hostile to the faith.”
Fr John said he had been greatly encouraged by the Italian Ultreya.
“While we recognised that we come from many different cultures, linguistic backgrounds, and diverse countries we saw it is the One Spirit that unites us in Jesus Christ,” he said.
“Thus, we seek to look at ways in which we can continue to reach the far-away in friendship with each other, with that discipleship that allows us to see Jesus who walks with us and accompanies us on our way.”
The next annual meeting of the Australian National Cursillo Movement is in Sydney from November 5-6, with delegates from diocese from across Australia.
