Statements by Popes and Bishops

At the highest levels, the Church has repeatedly supported and encouraged Catholic Charismatic Renewal. On 1 October, 1973, Pope Paul VI gave his blessing to CCR leaders who had gathered together from all over the world to attend the International Leaders Conference in Rome. He said that the Renewal fostered:

• A deepening desire for personal and communal prayer
• A desire for total commitment to Christ.
• A greater openness to the movement of the Holy Spirit.
• An accent on the praising of God.
• Diligent study of the Scriptures.
• Increased community and willingness to be of service to the Church

Pope John Paul II said to CCR leaders on 14 March, 1992:

The emergence of the Renewal following the Second Vatican Council was a particular gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church … Certainly one of the most important results of this spiritual awakening has been that increased thirst for holiness which is seen in the lives of individuals and in the whole Church.

Cardinal Suenens described the Renewal as a “moving of the Holy Spirit,” and as “a high voltage current of Grace which is coursing through the Church.”

International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services (ICCRS) is based in Rome and acts as the centre of communications within the worldwide Charismatic Renewal. It also serves as liaison between the Charismatic Renewal and the Vatican. Catholic Charismatic Renewal is active in 130 countries, and is fully supported and encouraged by the bishops of the Church.

The Bishops of Australia have given their full support to the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, and have appointed full-time and part-time chaplains and liaison priests. In November, 1996, Archbishop George Pell issued a statement expressing his fullest support for the work of Catholic Charismatic Renewal in the Archdiocese of Melbourne.

First of all I want to reiterate the words of Pope John Paul II when he said that "the emergence of Renewal following the second Vatican Council was a particular gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church" (Address to the International Council for Catholic Charismatic Renewal, 14 March, 1992).

Therefore I fully endorse the work of Catholic Charismatic Renewal within the Archdiocese of Melbourne.

I pray that your closeness to Jesus Christ will help the whole Church to become an instrument of God's healing presence in the world.