Pope says Christian unity comes from God, but requires our daily commitment

(January 23, 2012) Visible unity among Christians is always the work of God that requires our humility to recognize our weakness and pray for unity but at the same time it demands our daily commitment. This was the message that Pope Benedict XVI delivered on Sunday, just before reciting the weekly midday ‘Angelus’ prayer with a large crowd gathered in Rome’s St. Peter’s Square. He was speaking during the current annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Jan. 18-25, observed by most Christian Churches worldwide. Commenting on this year's theme from St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians - "All shall be changed by the victory of our Lord Jesus Christ” – the Pope urged all to contemplate Christ’s resurrection as his victory over sin and death as an event that transforms those who believe in Him. “Recognizing and accepting the transforming power of faith in Jesus Christ, sustains Christians in their search for full unity," the Pope said. The theme and reflection for this year’s unity week was prepared by an ecumenical team from Poland, and Pope Benedict pointed to the Polish people’s spiritual perseverance in Christian faith through their turbulent history that made them realize that true victory and freedom can only come if accompanied by a profound inner transformation. Similarly our search for unity can be conducted in a realistic way if the change takes place primarily in ourselves if we allow God to act, if we allow ourselves to be transformed to the image of Christ, if we enter into new life in Christ, which is the real victory. Finally, Pope Benedict urged all to join him in large numbers at the closing of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity on Wednesday at Rome’s Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls where in the presence of several representatives of other Christian Churches he will lead the Vespers.
After praying the ‘Angelus’ and imparting his blessing, Pope Benedict greeted the people of the Far East who on Monday celebrated the Lunar New Year, which this year is under the sign of the Dragon. The Pope said, “In the present world situation of economic and social crisis, for all those people I hope that the new year is marked by justice and peace, bringing relief to those who suffer, and that especially young people, with their enthusiasm, ideals and drive, can offer new hope to the world.