Download Pope Francis's First Apostolic Exhortation:Evangelii Gaudium, Joy of the Gospel

Source: Wikipedia

Pope Francis officially concluded the Year of Faith by publishing his first Apostolic Exhortation. The document is entitled Evangelii Gaudium, which translates to the 'Joy of the Gospel, is Pope Francis's distillation and response to the Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization.

The document is available to view, print or download as a PDF at the Vatican website. Additionally, Carl Olsen has posted a Vatican summary on his Insight Scoop blog.

Disciples Called to Witness

The Year of Faith was kicked with a Synod of the Bishops. As the participating bishops near the conclusion of the Synod, they explained that the New Evangelization “is not a question of finding new strategies as if the Gospel was to be spread like a market product, but rediscovering the ways in which individuals come close to Jesus.”

The Synod issued a strong challenge to the Church in North America:

The Bishops of the synodal Assembly invite you, Christians of North America, to respond with joy to the call to a new evangelization, while they look with gratitude at how your young Christian communities have borne generous fruits of faith, charity and mission. You need to recognize the many expressions of the present culture in the countries of your world which are today far from the Gospel. Conversion is necessary, from which is born a commitment that does not bring you out of your cultures, but in their midst to offer to all the light of faith and the power of life.

Below you will find a video overview of the synod. Look carefully at the image at the 33 second mark and you will notice our own Bishop Kevin Vann.