Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR) The Catholic Charismatic Renewal was founded in the late 1960s in the United States of America. It is a movement within the Catholic Church which spread rapidly around the world, and today has more than 120 million followers.[i] “At the core of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal is the ‘grace of Pentecost’ also known as baptism in the Holy Spirit.”[ii] “Pope John Paul II welcomed the renewal” and it became “very much part of his strategy of ‘new evangelization’” (ibid).   Catholic Charismatic Renewal International Service (CHARIS) Last December, The Dicastery for the Laity, the Family and Life announced that Pope Francis, following in the footsteps of Saint John Paul II, would give us a precious gift ...