This just in...Lay Movements

Courtesy of CNS (via Amy Welborn):

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Lay movements that enjoyed the strong support of Pope John Paul II believe they have an even stronger ally in Pope Benedict XVI.

In fact, one of the first meetings Pope Benedict has convoked on his own initiative -- rather than confirming a gathering originally planned under his predecessor -- is a Pentecost 2006 encounter with lay-movement representatives.

Leaders of 29 movements and communities, including the Focolare movement, Communion and Liberation, the Community of Sant'Egidio, L'Arche and the charismatic renewal, met in late June with officials of the Pontifical Council for the Laity to begin planning the encounter.

The movements involved are groups of mainly lay people who have a specific itinerary of prayer and formation and, usually, a particular mission or outreach such as evangelization, faith education, charitable work or social justice advocacy.

Read the whole story here.