The Vatican See Press Office today issued a brief statement announcing that a press conference is scheduled to take place on April 9th at Noon at which Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation “Gaudete et Exsultate” (Rejoice and be glad), and subtitled “On the call to holiness in the contemporary world” will be presented.
An Apostolic Exhortation is considered the second-highest form of papal teaching, after an Encyclical Letter.
Since his election, Pope Francis has issued two other Exhortations: “Evangelii Gaudium” in 2013 and “Amoris Laetitia” in 2016.
Bishop Angelo De Donatis, the Vicar General of the Rome Diocese, Italian journalist Gianni Valente and Paola Bignardi, a former President of Catholic Action Italy are set to speak about the Papal document.
While this may prove to be a truly inspiring invitation which will assist in the development of a practical and everyday spirituality to uplift the Christian spirit in an increasingly secular world often hostile to the Faith, the fact is that many Catholics will never read the Exhortation but rely on whatever headlines the secular press chooses to dedicate to its release.
For this reason, I pray the document is readable, brief and to the point rather than a lengthy treatise of hundreds of paragraphs or pages.
I also pray the manner in which this and other teachings are exposed to the faithful is accomplished in a way that may peak their curiosity enough to make them want to take a look at what the Pope actually has said rather than what spin others have chosen to put upon his words.
I, for one, am anxious to read the how the Pope believes we should practice our Catholic Faith and incorporate a simple and sincere spiritual regimen into our daily lives.
God bless this important and timely message from the Vicar of Christ.
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