2014-01-27 10:08:11

Pope concludes Week of Prayer for Christian Unity


Rome, 27 January 2014: Pope Francis presided over evening Vespers at Saint Paul’s Outside the Walls Basilica in Rome, to conclude week of prayer for Christian Unity on Saturday. Members of the many different Christian Churches joined in the event among whom were Metropolitan Gennadios, the representative of the Ecumenical Patriarch, and David Moxon, the personal representative in Rome of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Saturday’s celebrations coincide with the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul.

While reflecting on the theme of this year’s week of prayer for Christian unity, that is, “Has Christ been divided?”, Pope Francis said that it was chosen by a group of our fellow Christians in Canada.

The Apostle was grieved to learn that the Christians of Corinth had split into different factions, said the Pope, adding the particular experience of each individual, or an attachment to certain significant persons in the community, had become a yardstick for judging the faith of others.

Amid this divisiveness, Paul appeals to the Christians of Corinth “by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” to be in agreement. The communion for which the Apostle pleads, however, cannot be the fruit of human strategies, said the Pope, adding it can only come from looking to the mind and heart of Christ Jesus. Christ alone can be the principle, the cause and the driving force behind our unity, affirmed Pope Francis.

Pope Francis recalled the great works done by Blessed John XXIII and Blessed John Paul II. Pope John blazed new trails which earlier would have been almost unthinkable. Pope John Paul held up ecumenical dialogue as an ordinary and indispensable aspect of the life of each Particular Church. He also recalled Pope Paul VI, saying we are commemorating the 50th anniversary of his historic embrace with the Patriarch Athenagoras of Constantinople.

Pope Francis concluded his homily inviting all to ask Jesus, to keep us deeply united to him, to help us overcome our conflicts, our divisions and our self-seeking, and to be united to one another by the power of love which the Holy Spirit pours into our hearts.Source: VR Sedoc








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