Pope meets delegation from Finnish Lutheran Church
Pope Benedict met this morning with representatives from the Lutheran Church of
Finland, during their annual pilgrimage to Rome on the occasion of the feast of Saint
Henrik of Uppsala, patron saint of Finland. Among those attending the audience were
the Catholic Bishop of Helsinki, Teemu Sippo, and Lutheran Bishop Sekko Häkkinen of
Mikkeli.
Below the full text of Pope Benedict's address:
Dear
Bishop Sippo, Dear Bishop Häkkinen, Distinguished friends from Finland,
It
is with great joy that I welcome you, the members of the Finnish delegation, on the
occasion of your annual ecumenical pilgrimage to Rome in order to celebrate once more
today’s feast of Saint Henrik, the patron saint of Finland. In remembering our patron
Saints we give thanks for the action of the Holy Spirit, informing and transforming
the lives of those who have left us an outstanding example of fidelity to Christ and
to the Gospel.
The annual visit of an ecumenical delegation from Finland testifies
to the growth of communion among the Christian traditions represented in your country.
It is my profound hope that this communion may continue to grow, bearing rich fruit
among Catholics, Lutherans and all other Christians in your beloved homeland. Our
deepened friendship and common witness to Jesus Christ – especially before today’s
world, which so often lacks true direction and longs to hear the message of salvation
– must hasten our progress towards the resolution of our remaining differences, and
indeed of all matters on which Christians are divided.
In recent times, ethical
questions have become one of the points of difference among Christians, especially
with regard to the proper understanding of human nature and its dignity. There is
a need for Christians to arrive at a profound agreement on matters of anthropology,
which can then help society and politicians to make wise and just decisions regarding
important questions in the area of human life, family and sexuality.
In this
regard, the recent ecumenical bilateral dialogue document in the Finnish-Swedish context
not only reflects a rapprochement between Catholics and Lutherans over the understanding
of justification, but it urges Christians to renew their commitment to imitate Christ
in life and action. We trust in the power of the Holy Spirit to make possible what
may still seem beyond our reach: a widespread renewal of holiness and public practice
of Christian virtue, after the example of the great witnesses who have gone before
us.
In this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, the second reading
from today’s suggested texts recalls the patience of faithful believers like Abraham
(Heb 6:15) who were rewarded for their faith and trust in God. The realization that
God lovingly intervenes in our history teaches us not to place undue emphasis on what
we can accomplish through our own efforts. Our longing for the full, visible unity
of Christians requires patient and trustful waiting, not in a spirit of helplessness
or passivity, but with deep trust that the unity of all Christians in one Church is
truly God’s gift and not our own achievement. Such patient waiting, in prayerful
hope, transforms us and prepares us for visible unity not as we plan it, but as God
grants it.
It is my fervent hope that your visit to Rome will help to deepen
the fraternal relations that exist between Lutherans and Catholics in Finland. Let
us thank God for all that he has granted us so far and let us pray that he may fill
us with the Spirit of truth to guide us towards ever greater love and unity. Upon
you and all your fellow-citizens, I invoke God’s abundant blessings.