It was a deep joy and an immense blessing to participate in “A Day of Charismatic Renewal in the Heart of the Church” on April 3 at the Vatican – an event that formed part of the official celebrations of the Jubilee Year 2025.
Organized by CHARIS (Catholic Charismatic Renewal International Service), this unforgettable gathering brought together thousands of brothers and sisters from around the world to pray, intercede, and celebrate the grace of the Holy Spirit at the very center of our Catholic faith.
The day began with an early morning pilgrimage of intercession through the Vatican Gardens. Delegations from around the globe, many carrying flags and wearing traditional dress, stopped at three locations to pray: the Cortile San Damaso, the Cortile of the Governatorato and the Grotto of Lourdes. Each station invited us into profound moments of unity and spiritual communion. Participants prayed for the Church, the world, peace and a renewed outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
In the afternoon, we prepared for one of the most significant spiritual moments of the Jubilee: the passage through the Holy Door of Saint Peter’s Basilica. Before crossing this sacred threshold, we entered into a time of reflection in the Paul VI Audience Hall in the presence of Cardenal Matteo Zuppi, president of the Italian Conference of Bishops, in the absence of Pope Francis due to his illness. The Jubilee invites all of us to rediscover the beauty of God’s mercy and the power of His grace. Walking through the Holy Door reminded us that the path of conversion, healing and renewal is open to all who seek the Lord with sincere hearts.
I had the great privilege of being one of the speakers that day in the Paul VI Audience Hall, reflecting on the three-fold mission that Pope Francis has entrusted to the Charismatic Renewal: to work for unity, to serve the poor, and to share the Baptism in the Holy Spirit with the entire Church. These three pillars are not optional elements but essential dimensions of the life of every believer touched by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Father invites us to be bridges of reconciliation in divided communities; to go beyond comfort zones to encounter the poor and marginalized, serving them not from a distance, but with deep compassion and love; and to be bold in offering the baptism in the Holy Spirit – a life-changing encounter with the love of God – to all.
As the day culminated with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist followed by a charismatic celebration in Saint Peter’s Basilica, the heart of the universal Church, we experienced a profound outpouring of grace. The liturgy, marked by joyful praise, deep silence and spontaneous expressions of worship, beautifully united the richness of Catholic tradition with the vibrancy of charismatic spirituality.
After this event, this spirit of renewal and unity continued in Rome with another historic milestone: the first Worldwide Encounter of Charismatic Prayer Groups, held April 4-6. Nearly 1,000 participants from 70 countries gathered to reflect on the mission and identity of prayer groups and to be sent forth anew as missionary disciples. Together, both events highlighted how the Holy Spirit is moving mightily in the Church today – bringing together people of every language and nation to pray, serve and evangelize. There were not only visible signs of the fruit of the Holy Spirit blossoming in every corner of the world, but also of a powerful witness to the missionary calling entrusted to all who have experienced this life-giving fire.
As I reflect on this blessed day at the Vatican, I carry with me a renewed commitment to the mission Pope Francis has given us. There was a shared sense among participants that this was more than a celebration – it was a commissioning. We left Rome not only spiritually renewed, but also ready to return to our communities as instruments of healing, unity and hope.
The Jubilee Year 2025 continues to unfold, but for many in the Charismatic Renewal, April 3rd at the Vatican will remain a defining moment – when the grace of Pentecost was once again poured out in the very heart of the Church.
Come, Holy Spirit!
Andrés Arango is the Bishop’s Delegate for Hispanic Ministry and director of Evangelization for the Diocese of Camden.
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