Throughout his 12-year pontificate, Pope Francis closely shepherded the Shalom Catholic Community. The “Pope of closeness” met privately with the founder, Moysés Azevedo, on three occasions and personally addressed the members of the Community twice more. In these moments, the Community received new missionary mandates, such as being sent to the poor, renewed their offering of life at the feet of Peter, and had their evangelizing mission reaffirmed.
Shalom 35th Anniversary Convention in 2017
Around three thousand young people, families, celibates, and priests from the Shalom Catholic Community, representing over 26 countries, gathered in Rome between September 3 and 9, 2017, to celebrate the Community’s 35th anniversary. On the morning of September 4, the Pope welcomed them in a private audience at the Paul VI Hall.
Shalom 40th Anniversary Convention in 2022
The Community’s missionaries from around the world had another opportunity to gather for a private audience with the Pope, this time in 2022 for the 40th anniversary of the Shalom Charism. The meeting, held on September 26 in the Paul VI Hall, was broadcast live and followed by thousands of people. During the audience, the missionaries renewed their offering of life at the feet of the Pontiff.
Private Audiences with the Founder
On the morning of February 14, 2014, after celebrating Holy Mass at the Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis received Moysés Azevedo, founder of the Shalom Catholic Community, in a private audience. During the 30-minute meeting, Moysés renewed the Community’s offering of life and mission in favor of evangelizing the whole of humanity, especially the youth.
He also gifted the Pope with a small album recounting the history of the Community, part of which showed how the Community intercedes for the Pope through the “I Pray for the Pope” campaign.
Private Audience in 2016
In 2016, Moysés had another private meeting with Pope Francis. On that occasion, they discussed the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, the upcoming 35th anniversary of the Shalom Community, and a new project for evangelizing in the outskirts.
“The Pope was very happy, very enthusiastic about the proposal (for the Convention) and expressed his great desire to be with us,” Moysés said at the time.
Audience in 2022
In 2022, Moysés Azevedo had his third private audience with Pope Francis. In the meeting, held on the morning of April 25, the Shalom Community’s founder presented to the Pontiff the proposal for the 40th-anniversary Convention and renewed the invitation for a gathering with the entire Community.
“We had the opportunity to meet Pope Francis, and he welcomed us with his fatherly kindness and warmth. We proposed to the Holy Father the celebration of the 40 years of the Shalom Catholic Community here in Rome. At the end of September, we will have the opportunity to celebrate the Shalom Convention, titled: ‘Friend of God, Friend of the Young, Friend of the Poor.’ The Pope encouraged and supported us, and we’ll have the opportunity to renew our offering of life before the successor of Peter,” Moysés shared.
During the audience, Moysés also presented the Pope with a book about the Shalom Friend of the Poor project’s actions during the pandemic. Pope Francis also received an icon of the Marajoara Virgin, created for the Peace Space in Chaves, on Marajó Island, Pará.
