2008-02-16 11:15:01

Letter of Cardinal Walter Kasper to Secretary General of WCC


8 February, 2008

Reverend Dr Samuel Kobia
General Secretary
World Council of Churches
150 Route de Ferney - PO Box 2100 –
CH-1211 GENEVA 2 SWITZERLAND


Dear Dr Kobia,

As representatives of the member Churches and other partners join you to celebrate the Sixtieth Anniversary of the foundation of the World Council of Churches (WCC), I gladly take this opportunity to extend best wishes and congratulations to you and to all who serve the cause of ecumenism through this distinguished institution. Our memories go back to 23 August 1948 in Amsterdam when the WCC was formerly inaugurated. While at that time the Catholic Church had not become formally involved in the ecumenical movement, sixty years later our relationship has grown in such a way that the WCC has become a trusted partner in the quest for reconciliation and unity among Christians. Moreover, the creation of the Joint Working Group as early as 1964 and the full membership of Catholic theologians in the Faith and Order commission since 1968 have given this relationship a solid foundation capable of bringing forth new achievements and new promise.


Indeed, the recent prayer service in Rome at Saint Paul’s Outside-the-Walls to commemorate the centenary of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, in which you yourself and the members of the Joint Working Group took part, was a spiritual event which clearly symbolized the depth of the bonds between us. Giving Christian witness together deepens the unity that already exists between us by reason of our common faith and baptism. Our positive relationship continues to characterize the ecumenical journey and is a sign of our shared Christian vocation to work tirelessly for the restoration of full visible unity among Christians.


During these sixty years the Spirit of God has given us personalities of great stature within the WCC, convinced and steadfast promoters of that unity which the Lord so desired for his disciples. As a result, in a range of diverse and unprecedented ways Christians of every tradition continue to share their spiritual gifts (cf. Unitatis Redintegratio, 4), and have become ever more conscious of the need to act together in bearing faithful witness to the Gospel. The “universal brotherhood” of Christians has become a firm ecumenical conviction. Under the guidance of the Spirit we are called today to give an account of the hope that is in us (cf. 1 Pt 3:15) at a time when the ecumenical movement continues to grow, even as new challenges emerge calling for discernment, resilience and constructive initiatives.

It is therefore with heartfelt sentiments of appreciation and thanksgiving for the commendable work done by the WCC over the years that I send these good wishes on behalf of the Pontifical Council for promoting Christian Unity. In invoking the abundant gifts of the Triune God upon you and all at the WCC, I pray that the One who sustains us on the ecumenical journey may continue to bless the work of the Council in the search for unity and reconciliation.
Yours sincerely in Christ,
Walter Cardinal Kasper
President








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