At 9:00am this morning, in the Atrium of the Paul VI Hall, the Holy Father, Pope Francis received in audience the participants taking part in the Conference for Secretaries of the Christian World Communions.
Two things attracted my attention about what you (the Head of the Delegation) have said. The first thing: Jesus is with us. The second thing: Jesus is on a journey with us. These things make me reflect and leave me with two questions: Am I able to believe that Jesus is with us? Can I journey with everyone, together, even with Jesus? Many times, we think that ecumenical work is only theological in nature. But it's important that theologians have time to study, that they agree and that they express their disagreement; this is very important. But, in the meanwhile, ecumenism can take place along the journey. It's important that we are on this journey with Jesus, not with my Jesus against your Jesus, but with our Jesus. The journey is simple: it happens with prayer and when we are ready to help one another. We need to pray together: the ecumenism of prayer, one for another and all of us praying for unity. Then, the ecumenism of work for many needs, for many men and women who are suffering today because of injustices, war ... these things are terrible. All together, we need to help one another. Charity toward others. This is ecumenism. This is unity already. Unity on the journey with Jesus.
There is another ecumenism that we need to recognize and that is current today: the ecumenism of blood. When terrorists or world powers persecute Christian minorities or Christians, when they do this, do we not ask ourselves: Are you a Lutheran? Are you Orthodox? Are you Catholic? Are you Reformed? Are you Pentecostal?, no. You are Christian. They only recognize one thing: a Christian. The enemy is not mistaken, he knows how to recognize where Jesus is. This is the ecumenism of blood. Today, there are many witnesses; I think for example of our Coptic Orthodox brothers who were slaughtered on the beaches of Libya: they are our brothers. They bore witness to Jesus and died saying: Jesus, help me! By name: they confessed the name of Jesus.
So, the ecumenism of prayer, the ecumenism of journeying together, and the enemy teaches us the ecumenism of blood. Thank you very much. Thank you for this visit.
Impromptu greetings of His Holiness, Pope Francis
offered to Secretaries of the Christian World Communions
Two things attracted my attention about what you (the Head of the Delegation) have said. The first thing: Jesus is with us. The second thing: Jesus is on a journey with us. These things make me reflect and leave me with two questions: Am I able to believe that Jesus is with us? Can I journey with everyone, together, even with Jesus? Many times, we think that ecumenical work is only theological in nature. But it's important that theologians have time to study, that they agree and that they express their disagreement; this is very important. But, in the meanwhile, ecumenism can take place along the journey. It's important that we are on this journey with Jesus, not with my Jesus against your Jesus, but with our Jesus. The journey is simple: it happens with prayer and when we are ready to help one another. We need to pray together: the ecumenism of prayer, one for another and all of us praying for unity. Then, the ecumenism of work for many needs, for many men and women who are suffering today because of injustices, war ... these things are terrible. All together, we need to help one another. Charity toward others. This is ecumenism. This is unity already. Unity on the journey with Jesus.
There is another ecumenism that we need to recognize and that is current today: the ecumenism of blood. When terrorists or world powers persecute Christian minorities or Christians, when they do this, do we not ask ourselves: Are you a Lutheran? Are you Orthodox? Are you Catholic? Are you Reformed? Are you Pentecostal?, no. You are Christian. They only recognize one thing: a Christian. The enemy is not mistaken, he knows how to recognize where Jesus is. This is the ecumenism of blood. Today, there are many witnesses; I think for example of our Coptic Orthodox brothers who were slaughtered on the beaches of Libya: they are our brothers. They bore witness to Jesus and died saying: Jesus, help me! By name: they confessed the name of Jesus.
So, the ecumenism of prayer, the ecumenism of journeying together, and the enemy teaches us the ecumenism of blood. Thank you very much. Thank you for this visit.
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