Magisterial Documents: Evangelii Gaudium

Francis, Apostolic Exhortation on the Proclamation of the Gospel in Today’s World
November 24, 2013, the solemnity of Christ, the King of the Universe, and the conclusion of the Year of Faith.
The full document is available on the internet.

Brief Introduction

Evangelii gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel) is a 2013 apostolic exhortation by Pope Francis on the church's mission of evangelization in the modern world." Evangelii gaudium aims at overcoming complacency at every level of the church’s hierarchy and in the life of every Christian. It touches on the obligations Christians have to the poor, and the duty to establish and maintain just economic, political, and legal orders. Calling for an "ecclesial renewal which cannot be deferred," Francis is critical of the over-centralization of church bureaucracy, poor preaching, and excessive emphasis on doctrine. In this context, the pope calls for more pastoral creativity and empathy which even includes a “pastoral conversion” in papal ministry.

Outline

Introduction
1, The Joy of the Gospel

I. 
2-8, Joy Ever New, A Joy Which Is Shared

II.
9-13, The Delightful and Comforting Joy of Evangelizing
11-13, Eternal Newness 

III.
14-18, The New Evangelization for The Transmission of the Faith
16-18, The Scope and Limits of this Exhortation

Chapter One
19, The Church’s Missionary Transformation
 
I.  
20-24, Taking the First Step, Being Involved and Supportive, Bearing Fruit, and Rejoicing 

II. 
25-33, Pastoral Activity and Conversion
27-33, An Ecclesial Renewal Which Cannot Be Deferred 

III.  
34-39, From the Heart of The Gospel

IV.
40-45, A Mission Embodied Within Human Limits

V.
46-49, A Mother with An Open Heart 

Chapter Two
50-51, Amid the Crisis of Communal Commitment

I.
Some Challenges of Today’s World [52-75]
53-54, No To An Economy Of Exclusion
55-56, No To The New Idolatry Of Money 
57-58, No To A Financial System Which Rules Rather Than Serves
59-60, No To The Inequality Which Spawns Violence
61-67, Some Cultural Challenges
68-70, Challenges To Inculturating The Faith
71-75, Challenges From Urban Cultures

II.
Temptations Faced by Pastoral Workers [76-109]
78-80, Yes To The Challenge Of A Missionary Spirituality 
81-83, No To Selfishness And Spiritual Sloth
84-86, No To A Sterile Pessimism
87-92, Yes To The New Relationships Brought By Christ
93-97, No To Spiritual Worldliness 
98-101, No To Warring Among Ourselves
102-109, Other Ecclesial Challenges

Chapter Three
110, The Proclamation of The Gospel 

I.
The Entire People of God Proclaims The Gospel [111-134]
112-114, A People For Everyone
115-118, A People Of Many Faces
119-121, We Are All Missionary Disciples
122-126, The Evangelizing Power Of Popular Piety
127-129, Person To Person
130-131, Charisms At The Service Of A Communion Which Evangelizes
132-134, Culture, Thought And Education

II.
The Homily [135-144]
137-138, The Liturgical Context
139-141, A Mother’s Conversation
142-144, Words Which Set Hearts On Fire

III.
Preparing to Preach [145-159]
146-148, Reverence For Truth 
149-151, Personalizing The Word
152-153, Spiritual Reading 
154-155, An Ear To The People 
156-159, Homiletic Resources 

IV.
Evangelization and the Deeper Understanding of the Kerygma [160-175]
163-168, Kerygmatic And Mystagogical Catechesis 
169-173, Personal Accompaniment In Processes Of Growth 
174-175, Centered On The Word Of God 

Chapter Four
176, The Social Dimension of Evangelization 

I.
Communal and Societal Repercussions of the Kerygma [177-185]
178-179, Confession of Faith and Commitment to Society
180-181, The Kingdom And Its Challenge 
182-185, The Church’s Teaching On Social Questions 

II.
The Inclusion of the Poor in Society [186-216]
187-192, In Union With God, We Hear a Plea 
193-196, Fidelity To The Gospel, Lest We Run in Vain
197-201, The Special Place of the Poor in God’s People 
202-208, The Economy And The Distribution Of Income 
209-216, Concern For The Vulnerable

III.
217-221
Common Good and Peace in Society [217-221]
222-225, Time Is Greater Than Space 
226-230, Unity Prevails Over Conflict 
231-233, Realities Are More Important Than Ideas 
234-237, The Whole Is Greater Than The Part 

IV.
Social Dialogue as a Contribution to Peace [238-258]
242-243, Dialogue Between Faith, Reason And Science
244-246, Ecumenical Dialogue
247-249, Relations With Judaism
250-254, Interreligious Dialogue
255-258, Social Dialogue In A Context Of Religious Freedom 

Chapter Five
259-261, Spirit-Filled Evangelizers 

I.
Reasons for a Renewed Missionary Impulse [262-283]
264-267, Personal Encounter With The Saving Love Of Jesus  
268-274, The Spiritual Savor of Being A People
275-280, The Mysterious Working Of The Risen Christ And His Spirit
281-283, The Missionary Power Of Intercessory Prayer 

II.
Mary, Mother of Evangelization [284-288]
285-286, Jesus’ Gift To His People
287-288, Star Of The New Evangelization 

© This material has been compiled by Danielle M. Peters, S.T.D.
Copyright is reserved for The Marian Library/International Marian Research Institute.
Most recently updated in 2018.