In the footsteps of Martin Luther

Following in the footsteps of Martin Luther, a group of Evangelical Lutheran bishops came to Rome this week and met with Pope Benedict in the Vatican on Monday. Speaking to the group in German, the Pope recalled how dialogue between Catholics and Lutherans began fifty years ago and how, despite the fact that theological differences persist, great progress has been made towards unity.

The Pope remarked that nowadays some people feel that the goal of full and visible unity among Christians seems to be getting further away. In this context he noted that he shared the concern of many Christians that the fruits of ecumenical efforts are not sufficiently visible. Nonetheless, he went on, ecumenical dialogue under the guidance of the Holy Spirit continues to be a fundamental instrument for overcoming obstacles, and he reaffirmed the important contribution of theological debate to help resolve outstanding questions. He also spoke of the need for a shared position on questions concerning the defence and dignity of human beings, and on the great issues that regard the family, marriage and sexuality.
Finally, he pointed out that 2017 will mark the five-hundredth anniversary of the publication of Martin Luther's 'Theses', which gave rise to the division between Catholics and Lutherans. On both sides, he stressed, the commemoration should be characterised not by triumphalism but by an ecumenism which highlights the shared faith in the One God. That date will also be an opportunity to reflect on the causes of division and to undertake a purification of heart. At the same time, the Pope continued, it will be an occasion to evaluate the 1500 years that preceded the Reformation, the patrimony of which is shared by Catholics and Lutherans alike.
Leading the delegation was theologian and Lutheran bishop of Bavaria, Dr Johannes Friedrich who talked to Philippa Hitchen about the papal audience and other activities on their agenda here in Rome….

Listen:

It was a very cordial meeting, I know the Pope for many years.....I thanked him for what he has done for the common declaration of Justification and I asked for 2 or 3 things....for Eucharistic hospitality for Lutheran members of a mixed marriage. This is possible (under) the law but in Germany the bishops decided not to do it yet and I asked him to support our request of the German bishops.
The second thing which was important for me was that we will have a Jubilee in 2017, the 500 years since the beginning of the Reformation and we don't want to celebrate this year as Lutherans alone but we will do it together with the Roman Catholic Church....because also the Roman Catholic Church was reformed by the Reformation and I hope they will give us a critical, consultative report about what Martin Luther has done for the Roman Catholic Church.
100 years ago, the Jubilee was done with a big stone monument, a very national German (monument). This time we'll do it in a very international, very ecumenical (way), so we have a so-called 'Luther Garden' where we'll plant 500 trees so we'll have a growing monument. 500 churches will plant a tree in Wittenburg and they shall plant another tree in their home country. This was done here - Cardinal Kasper planted one in Wittenburg and now his successor, Cardinal Koch, planted one in St Paul's (Outside the Walls).