New Evangelization

The Second Vatican Council endorsed an engagement with the modern and secularized world through a renewed proclamation of the Gospel. John Paul II described this as the <i>New Evangelization</i> and in 2010 Benedict XVI confirmed this priority by creating the Pontifical Council for Promoting the <i>New Evangelization</i> to 're-propose the perennial truth of the Gospel.' <i>The New Evangelization </i>was the subject of the Synod of Bishops in 2012 and in 2014 Pope Francis gave his reflections on the topic in <i>Evangelii Gaudium</i>.<br/><br/><i>The New Evangelization</i> draws on material presented and discussed at the conference '<i>Vatican II 50 Years On: The New Evangelization'</i> organised by Leeds Trinity University on 26-29th June 2012. Part I traces the historical and theological links between the Council and the <i>New Evangelization</i>. Part II examines the renewed understanding of the Church as a result of the Council and the extent to which it is shaped by civilization. Part III analyzes the nature of the <i>New Evangelization</i> and its outworking in today's multifarious context of cultures religions and societies. Part IV deals with the implementation of the <i>New Evangelization</i> by different communities and organizations and the issues this raises. In the Introduction and Conclusion the editors reflect on the <i>New Evangelization</i> in the light of significant developments since 2012.