The rising laity

Massimo Faggioli

This book offer an analysis of the phenomenon of the new ecclesial movements with two different but compatible perspectives: historical and comparative. The historical perspective is necessary because the phenomenon grew in these last hundred years and a sociological-anthropological perspective tends to offer a nondynamic view of them. The comparative perspective Europe-USA is necessary because of the global nature of Catholicism and of the international-global features of these movements. This book is important in the Church of today considering the new emphasis given by pope Francis to the movements in the wider frame of a less institutional and more outward-looking Church. A special chapter will be devoted to Pope Francis and the movements, analyzing the unique aspects of the relationship between the pontificate and the movements and the differences with his predecessors,...