Pope Benedict XVI address the Conference of Secretaries of Christian World Communions

(27 Oct 2006) : Addressing the Conference of Secretaries of Christian World Communions in the Vatican on Thursday Pope Benedict XVI said, “for decades the Conference has provided a forum for fruitful contacts between the various ecclesial communities. This has enabled their representatives to build that reciprocal trust needed to engage seriously in bringing the richness of different Christian traditions to serve the common call to discipleship. Every step towards Christian unity serves to proclaim the Gospel, and is made possible by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ who prayed that his disciples might be one, ‘so that the world may believe’,” the Pope said.

Pope Benedict further continued, “it is clear to us all that today’s world is in need of a new evangelization, a fresh accounting on the part of Christians, for the hope that is in them. Yet those who profess that Jesus Christ is Lord, are tragically divided and cannot always give a consistent common witness. Herein lies an enormous responsibility for us all,” the Pontiff said. “The Conference of Secretaries of the Christian World Communions continues to grapple with important questions of its identity and its specific role in the ecumenical movement. Let us pray that such reflection will bring fresh insight regarding the perennial ecumenical question of “reception” and that it will help to strengthen the common witness so necessary today,” the Pontiff concluded.