Foundation , Motivation and Context
continued and strengthened by Pope Benedict XVI and now Pope Francis .
In Evangelii Gaudium , Pope Francis encouraged the Church to enter a “ new phase of evangelization ” as missionary disciples — a phase marked by ongoing “ missionary conversion .” 10 This is the motivation and context for the Convocation of Catholic Leaders : The Joy of the Gospel in America . The Holy Father teaches that , “ The Gospel joy which enlivens the community of disciples is a missionary joy ” ( EG , no . 21 ). Each of us is called to witness Christ to the world . At the Convocation , bishops and other Catholic leaders will “ devote the necessary effort to advancing along the path of a pastoral and missionary conversion which cannot leave things as they presently are .” 11
The pastoral and missionary conversion called for by Pope Francis includes an initiation into the “‘ art of accompaniment ’ which teaches us to remove our sandals before the sacred ground of the other ( cf . Ex 3:5 ).” 12 This accompaniment , as the Holy Father explains , leads others closer to God as “ a pilgrimage with Christ to the Father .” 13 Missionary discipleship demands “ drawing nearer to others ,” including drawing “ near to new forms of poverty and vulnerability , in which we are called to recognize the suffering Christ .” 14 Pope Francis ’ s vision of missionary conversion and pastoral accompaniment is central to the Convocation .
In August of 1917 , nearly one hundred years ago , representatives from 68 dioceses , 27 national Catholic organizations , and the Catholic press , met in Washington , DC , to unify their efforts in responding to the needs of the times ( in that case , the First World War ). Out of this first meeting grew what today we know as the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops ( USCCB ). The various collaborating organizations included or prefigured many of the groups and delegations that are participating in the Convocation of Catholic Leaders , one hundred years later . The Convocation , in an analogous way , is a unique gathering , convened under the leadership of the bishops , to respond to
9