Pope Francis calls charisma ‘gift of the Holy Spirit’
(ANSA) – Vatican City, November 6 – Pope Francis on Wednesday told worshippers at a general audience that the Catholic Church must appreciate charisma as a gift of the Holy Spirit.
The wildly popular, charismatic Church leader said, ”Charisms, these gifts, are not given to benefit those who receive them but for their utility to God’s people”.
”One can doubt that charisma is authentic” in cases where the magnetic person is using that gift only for him or herself, the pope continued.
On the other hand, said the pope, ”We are all called upon to respect charisma in ourselves and in others”.
He called on his audience to question ”our attitudes toward these gifts of the Holy Spirit” within ourselves.
”Do we consider them as spiritual help through which the Lord sustains our faith?” the pope asked.