Lies and Deception: They never tell you they are with the Neocatechumenal Way

Why do they keep it from you? Why don't they ever tell you they are with the Neocatechumenal Way or what you're getting yourself into is a new subchurch, or parallel church? - because they deceive from the outset. 

Readers of the The Thoughtful Catholic might remember the "God gives you cancer guy"Francesco Gennarini,://thoughtfulcatholic.com/francesco-gennarini-cancer-is-sent-by-god/  ,nepo baby of Kiko's replacement, Giuseppi Gennarini https://thoughtfulcatholic.com/giuseppes-islands/. Recently Francesco, his latest child and his wife were seen at the recent Papal address to the Neocatechumenal Way; which was a gigantic departure from years past. 

Just four years ago the Neocatechumenal Way met with Pope Francis, as they had met with previous Popes, in the Nervi Auditorium. In all previous years the audience was full of large familes, priests, cardinals and of course, Kiko's team. Kiko led the huge crowd like he does at every Kiko gathering, singing his songs, calling on the various groups representing their countries of origin; followed by a lecture to the Pope on how the Way operates its scheme... er steps. 

https://therecord.com.au/news/international/preach-the-gospel-obey-the-church-pope-francis-tells-neocatechumenal-way/

This year, Pope Leo XVI would have none of that, opting to meet with them in the Vatican Hall of Blessings, a significantly smaller space. Kiko led no songs or lecture and no introductions to the various delegates, one being the Gennarinis.

In this Hall, the Pope went down the isle blessing two infants and one toddler, in what was otherwise a gathering of seniors citizens.  

https://zenit.org/2026/01/19/live-your-spirituality-without-ever-separating-yourselves-from-the-rest-of-the-ecclesial-body-pope-leo-xiv-to-the-neocatechumenal-way/

A recent photo was sent by a reader who fled the NCW to a parish sans NCW,  only to find they were introducing a "Lenten Mission" by none other than Francesco Gennarini and family. The ad insinuates the Pope himself sent this family to Aurora, Colorado because who is going to argue with the Pope!? "The team is composed of a priest, two young men, and a couple with their 11 children"; this couple with the 11 children, the Gennarinis, haven't traveled on mission from Rome to "spread the gospel" but rather have been living in the Denver Metro area for about a decade. How do we know? The "cancer sent by God" speech was at a church mere miles away from their new target. Junglewatch published "Confusion and Division Wherever it Goes" https://www.junglewatch.info/2016/08/neocatechumenal-way-confusion-and.html a translation from Cruxsancta (https://cruxsancta.blogspot.com/2016/08/neocatecumenado-el-arbol-malo-da-malos.html) TEN YEARS ago - this same parish was where the Thoughtful Catholic published the "Cancer is Sent by God" post. Furthermore, the Gennarini's and children have been actively involved in St. James Parish in Denver, where the NCW dominates the school and parish there. 

This "invitation to hear a word" is complete deception. Living in Colorado, going to Rome to see and be seen by the Pope,visit Rome, and return home, is far different than the Pope sending them to the parish.  This mission of theirs tries to pull at any problem you have and then manipulate the emotions into thinking the NCW has the answer to your suffering. They say God gave you that suffering rather than allowing it and then they want you to focus on that suffering, indulge in the suffering, so much so that you become proud and boastful in it and boast of your sins. 

The wallowing in sin and suffering turns them into yelling, miserable, monsters who swear at and name call the poor parishioners who were duped into thinking they were just being a good Catholic, following their pastor into a parish Lenten mission. For the Way, the presence of suffering means that God is present and therefore you should be happy, however, the absence of suffering isn't happiness, neither is the presence of suffering; but the absence of God is suffering and the presence of God is happiness. Maybe that sounds like arguing over a glass half full or empty, however, to put it more plainly,  a neocat would say "suffering brings me joy" like some sadist, whereas a true follower of Christ simply says "my joy is in the Lord". The cancer here is not one sent by God but that of the Neocatechumenal Way, and the evidence is found in parishioners with the same, sad stories all over the world. 

So you've been invited to a catechisis? https://carmenkiko.wordpress.com/2022/09/07/youve-been-invited-to-a-catechesis/'

The Forgotten Victims

The following entry is reposted, with permission,  from a person who grew up in the Neocatechumenal Way. Although the Pope's recent admonishing words were the harshest a Pope has delivered thus far, it is likely to fall on deaf ears with the leaders of the Way. Pope Leo XIV, like all previous Popes that addressed the Way in this format, took more control of the NCW audience and didn't allow the theatrics in prior years with his predecessors. Pope Leo, like his predecessors balanced praise and encouragement for the good works, with words of caution and rebuke, being more direct in his speech, perhaps because, he knows all too well the aftermath and abuses the Way inflicts on a diocese from his time cleaning up the mess in Callao, Peru. 

Sadly, it won't be enough. Those who have been in the Way, like the following writer; know all too well that Kiko and company will take only the praise and ignore the admonishments. Only a direct "cease and desist", clearly outlining exactly what they must STOP doing, might they actually listen. Furthermore, this group of "catechists"  and members, only seem to comprehend words that are yelled and emphasized with arm gestures likened to Mussolini or Stalin, or any other nerfarious dictator in history that has a podium and microphone. The following is a heartfelt, and poetic look into the lives of many who, miraculously, still hold on to faith - despite the Way, and still look to the Holy Roman Catholic Church for guidance and hope in Christ. How long must they wait? When will consolation and reconciliation come for them? How I wish the church would consider those not only left confused and abused by the Way, but all those who have LEFT the church because of the Way, and worse, those who have ceased believing  because of the Way. 

Spiritual Abuse, Institutional Betrayal, and Abuse of Conscience - Reflections on the recent Papal Audience with the Neocatechumenal Way: The Forgotten Victims

I have been reflecting on the Pope’s words during his recent meeting with the leaders of the Neocatechumenal Way. I attended those meetings many times myself, first as a child and later as an adult. I know the atmosphere well: after the "convivence" in Porto San Giorgio, where you are lofted in spiritual heights, you feel part of something extraordinary. In that context, the Pope’s warnings must have felt deflating to those present, despite his expressions of appreciation. But within the movement, the internal logic is to simply shrug it off. The mindset is that the Pope doesn’t truly know what is happening on the ground, and the only thing that matters is that we were "sent." The Church has approved us; it doesn't need to understand us. As usual, the Pope’s address was a mix of gratitude for the "good work" and warnings against "excesses." It is a familiar cycle—nothing new under the sun. By taking this approach, the institution keeps everyone satisfied: members point to the praise as a shield, and critics point to the warnings as a sword. But who is forgotten? The victims. The victims of these "excesses" are not being acknowledged. There is no call for reparation, no justice for the broken. This "balanced" approach only perpetuates the same pastoral negligence that allowed these abuses to happen in the first place.

It is painful to acknowledge, but the institution of the Catholic Church—through its priests, bishops, the Vatican, and the Pope himself—has played a role in allowing these abuses to occur. Our Mother failed to protect us. We were violated in the most sacred and intimate sanctuary that exists: our conscience. We were told we were safe within the Womb of the Church, only to be spiritually aborted. This hurt is constant. Our cries are muffled by an anonymity born of necessity, intended to protect our lives, yet leaving us to suffer in silence. We are mocked from all sides. From within, we are branded as rebellious or deceived by the devil. From without, we are dismissed as disgruntled, bitter, and angry. I turn to Jesus Christ, the Good Samaritan, asking Him to look upon us with compassion. I pray that the suffering we bear in silence will eventually yield the fruit Christ intends for the Church and the world—a fruit of truth and real accountability.

How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?

For the full context of the Pope's address to the Way with commentary go to:

https://thoughtfulcatholic.com/address-of-his-holiness-pope-leo-xiv-to-the-leaders-of-the-neocatechumenal-way/