Pope urges prayers for peace during Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

January 21, 2013 - Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday asked for more prayers of world peace as part of the current Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Speaking to a large crowd that had gathered in St. Peter's Square to pray the weekly midday ‘Angelus’ with him, the Pope said he was again urging for prayers for peace so that the courage to dialogue and negotiate be found to end diverse on-going conflicts, the massacre of unarmed civilians and all violence. Christians worldwide are observing the annual Jan. 18-25 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Speaking from his studio window, the Pope noted that "one of the most serious sins that disfigures the face of the Church is against its visible unity, especially the historical divisions that have separated Christians, that haven't yet been overcome." This week that is always welcomed by believers and communities, the Pope noted, awakens in all the spiritual desire and commitment to full communion. In this regard, he fondly recalled the experience of the beauty of being one around Christ during last month's vigil in St. Peter’s Square with thousands of young Europeans of the Taizé ecumenical community. The theme of this year’s Christian Unity week - 'What does the Lord require of us?' has been proposed by India’s Christian communities to focus on the rights and dignity of Dalits and all oppressed classes, as a unifying cause among Christians. Pointing to this theme, Pope Benedict urged all "to walk with determination towards the visible unity of all Christians to overcome, as brothers in Christ, any kind of unjust discrimination."
The Holy Father also briefly reflected on Sunday’s Gospel episode of Christ’s first public miracle when he changed water into wine at the marriage feast of Cana. "Jesus reveals himself as the Bridegroom Messiah, coming to establish the new and eternal covenant with his people," he explained. "The wine is a symbol of this joy of love, and it also alludes to the blood that Jesus will pay in the end which will seal his marriage covenant with humanity," the Pope said. He explained that the Church is the Bride of Christ, who makes her holy and beautiful with his grace. However, he noted that this Bride managed by human beings is always in need of purification.
After reciting the ‘Angelus’ the Pope spoke in various languages including in English.

Listen:
I greet all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors present at today’s Angelus. In these days, we are celebrating the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Let us join our prayers to those of our brothers and sisters of all Churches and communities, that we may dedicate ourselves ever more earnestly to working towards our visible unity in Jesus Christ. God bless you and your loved ones!