Though I made the case for this in a HuffPost blog almost a year ago, the Argentine pontiff's penchant for Spirit-centred Catholicism has been one of the most underreported aspects of his dynamic papacy.

Francis's spirited participation in the 37th Annual Convocation of the Charismatic movements along with some 50,000 Catholics at Rome's Olympic Stadium leaves no doubt that he is the first ever Charismatic pope.

Like their Pentecostal brethren who inspired the movement, Catholic Charismatics practice a pneumacentric form of Christianity centred on the transformative role of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

Charismatic worship is a high-octane affair involving, upbeat music, dancing, speaking in tongues and even unsanctioned exorcisms on occasion.

While the Catholic Charismatic Renewal enjoyed papal endorsements from both of Francis's immediate predecessors, the Argentine pope became the first to attend an annual Charismatic convocation.

Through both his actions and words, the Latin American pontiff wholeheartedly embraced the Renewal.

Francis participated in the worship service in Charismatic style, kneeling in prayer, waving his hands in rhythm to the emotionally-charged songs of praise and in singing Charismatic hymns.

Verbally, the dynamic pope called the Charismatic Renewal "a great force" for the Catholic Church, repeating the phrase that at first in Argentina he viewed them as a "samba school," a typically derogatory expression in his native country that conjures up the unrestrained exuberance of Brazilian carnival. Continue reading.

R. Andrew Chesnut, Ph.D., holds the Bishop Walter F. Sullivan Chair in Catholic Studies and is Professor of Religious Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Source: Huffington Post

Image: VCU/YouTube

Not perhaps the sort of words that you'd expect from the Pope.

But then again, who would have predicted that the Pontiff would film an informal video message on a friend's iPhone for broadcast to the attendees of an American Pentecostal leaders' conference?

‘We have to encounter one another as brothers,' Pope Francis also said in the short film.

Referring to the Old Testament reunion of Joseph with his brothers, he continued: ‘We have to cry together as Joseph did. These tears will unite us. The tears of love.'

The film was shown in February 2014 at a gathering of leaders brought together by Kenneth Copeland, who has been criticised for his prosperity theology.

Pope Francis made the film with his Anglican friend, Bishop Anthony Palmer, who formerly worked alongside Copeland, but since 2003 has worked among Catholics in Italy.

After watching the Pope on screen, the entire conference prayed for him in tongues, and Copeland filmed a live message of blessing [on Palmer's iPhone again] to send back to the Holy Father.

You can watch the entire stereotype-smashing event on YouTube.

‘I couldn't believe it… Talk about breaking taboo,' said Kristina Cooper, editor of the UK's Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR) magazine Good News, of the event.

Michelle Moran, chair of CCR England and Wales, explains that the Pope wasn't necessarily aligning himself with Copeland's theological or doctrinal stances, however. Continue reading.

Source: Christianity Magazine

Image: YouTube

The church may have lost privileged status in many nations, and is dropping some market share to a rapidly growing Pentecostal movement.

But the combination of increasing religious freedom and competition is also fuelling a Catholic renewal movement, and equipping the church with the community-based revival necessary to meet challenges from the prosperity gospel movement to the secularisation of many Latin American nations, analysts say.

Not to mention that concern over Pentecostal successes played a role in the election of the first pope from Latin America, an Argentinian archbishop who is winning widespread regional acclaim for his humble, pastoral approach.

Greater attendance at Mass. The flowering of a Catholic charismatic movement with lay leadership and culturally sensitive worship that also shares the Pentecostal commitment to evangelism. And a revered global leader emerging from its ranks.

A church in Latin America that was in danger of becoming a stale religious monopoly - witness the malaise throughout much of Western Europe - is reasserting itself in what is a vibrant religious landscape from Mexico to Brazil, according to some researchers. Continue reading.

David Briggs writes the Ahead of the Trend column for the Association of Religion Data Archives. He is executive director of the International Association of Religion Journalists.

Source: Huffington Post

Image: The annual celebration of Saints Peter and Paul in San Ana, Bolivia, Stephen Davies