Blog by-the-Sea

The Holy Spirit and the Longing for Full Unity

In today's General Audience, Pope Benedict XVI welcomed His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of all Armenians, who was present and who also made a brief address.  The Holy Father's address to Karekin II was in English, including the following excerpt from the Vatican Press Office:

In an external niche of Saint Peter’s Basilica, there is a fine statue of Saint Gregory the Illuminator, founder of the Armenian Church. It serves to remind us of the severe persecutions suffered by Armenian Christians, especially during the last century. Armenia’s many martyrs are a sign of the power of the Holy Spirit working in times of darkness, and a pledge of hope for Christians everywhere.

In the Holy Father's catechesis that followed in Italian, he spoke of the Holy Spirit and of this coming Sunday's celebration of Pentecost.

An English translation of the greeting to Karekin II and the catechesis is available from Zenit and Papa Ratzinger Forum.

The Italian text of the catechesis was provided by the Vatican Press Office with short summaries in several languages.  A longer summary with quotes in English is available in the Vatican Information Service press release, including this:

These days of preparation that immediately precede the Solemnity of Pentecost stimulate us to renew our hope in the help of the Holy Spirit to advance along the path of ecumenism. We have the certainty that the Lord Jesus never abandons us in our search for unity, because His Spirit is tirelessly at work to support the efforts we make to overcome all forms of division. . . . This is what Christ asks of Christians: to persevere in prayer in order to keep alive the flame of faith, hope and charity, and the longing for full unity.

Conclusion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

On the last day of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Pope Benedict XVI spoke this morning with the Joint Working Group between the World Council of Churches and the Catholic Church about progress in the dialogue for unity.  Vatican Radio and Papa Ratzinger Forum have the text of his address, which was delivered in English.  In it, he said, "To pray for unity is itself 'an effective means of obtaining the grace of unity' (Unitatis Redintegratio, 8), since it is a participation in the prayer of Jesus himself."

This evening, he presided at the celebration of Vespers for the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, concluding the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.  Papa Ratzinger Forum has an English translation of his homily.  Asia News has an article.  He spoke of the combination of human effort and divine grace at work in drawing Christians into unity.  Mentioning prayer again, he said, "Unity with God and others is built, above all, through a life of prayer, in the constant quest for 'the will of God for you in Christ Jesus' (cfr 1 Thes 5,18)," and "There is no genuine ecumenism that is not rooted in prayer."    

Benedict XVI: Pray for Christian unity without growing weary

In today's General Audience, Pope Benedict XVI spoke about the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity which runs from January 18 to 25.  He spoke about the history of the observance, which was begun 100 years ago by an American Anglican named Paul Watson, who later became Catholic.  He emphasized the importance of prayer for "the grace" of Christian unity, remembering "the invitation to pray without growing weary that the apostle Paul addressed to the first Christians of Thessalonica" when he learned that there were "dissensions" among them.

Asia News has an article.  Full translations are available from the Vatican and Papa Ratzinger Forum.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2008

January 18 to 25 is the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in the northern hemisphere.  The Holy Father drew attention to it at the end of today's General Audience, saying:

"The day after tomorrow, Friday, Jan. 18, marks the beginning of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which this year has special significance because a hundred years have passed since its inception. The theme is the invitation of St. Paul to the Thessalonians: "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17); an invitation which I gladly make my own and address to the whole Church.

"It is indeed necessary to pray without ceasing, insistently asking God for the great gift of unity among all the Lord's disciples. May the endless strength of the Holy Spirit move us to a sincere commitment to seek unity, so that all together we may profess that Jesus is the one Saviour of the world."

This year's Resources for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, from the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, are based on an original draft prepared by the Greymoor Ecumenical and Interreligious Institute in New York.  The first draft comes from a different country each year.  This year's theme, as the Pope said, is "Pray without ceasing."

Recent Papal Writings Mention Church Unity in a Diverse Church

There are a few things that Benedict XVI recently wrote that I want to include in a post before his new encyclical is released tomorrow.  If I don't do it now, I may not get back to them later, and they are too important to overlook.

About the Encyclical on Christian Hope

For the encyclical to be released tomorrow, I will plan to post something after I am able to read through the whole thing, which I understand will be more than 60 pages.  After I have read it, I will probably do one or more posts about it during Advent.  Meanwhile, there are round-ups of news articles and commentaries at Against the Grain and The American Papist.

The Letter on the 16th Centenary of St. John Chrysostom: The Unity of the Church in the Fourth Century

Pope Benedict XVI's Letter on the 16th Centenary of the Death of St. John Chrysostom is now available in an official English translation on the Vatican's website. 

Dated August 10, 2007, the letter was released by the Vatican in Italian on November 8.  Fr. Zuhlsdorf had a post about it on November 13, calling it one of the best written letters that he had seen in a while.  He also provided a down-loadable unofficial translation.  However, the official translation was only recently added to the Vatican website.

The letter begins with a summary of the fourth century saint's life, teaching and works for the poor and sick.   It continues with a discussion of how he was venerated  from the fifth century on, so that he was soon recognized as a Father and Doctor of the Church.  The Pope made special mention of the saint's contribution toward ending a schism that had developed between the See of Antioch and the western churches under the See of Rome.  He mentioned that St. Chrysostom "spoke passionately about the unity of the Church scattered across the world," founded on Christ, the Incarnate Word.  St. Chrysostom once said that "The faithful in Rome consider those in India as members of their own body." He saw that the Eucharist attested to this ecclesial unity in Christ.  The Pope mentions the saint's deep reflections on Holy Communion and the Divine Liturgy, and the moral consequences of that Mystery including the need to help the poor and the hungry.

Message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees

The Pope's Message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees was released on Wednesday, November 28.  While his letter on St. John Chrysostom speaks of the importance of unity within the Church, among people of different cultures across the world, his Message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees speaks of the importance of cultural diversity within one location where people have immigrated from elsewhere in the world.

Reflecting specifically on young migrants who may have difficulty becoming inserted into their new culture although they may be among the brightest from their places of origin: "on the one hand, they feel a strong need to not lose their culture of origin, while on the other, the understandable desire emerges in them to be inserted organically into the society that receives them, but without this implying a complete assimilation and the resulting loss of their ancestral traditions."  Moreover, he mentioned that girls may be especially subject to exploitation.

The Holy Father mentioned schools and education as a particularly important means of responding to the needs of young migrants.  The education system, he said, should consider their specific needs and "create a climate of mutual respect and dialogue among all the students in the classrooms based on the universal principles and values that are common to all cultures."  He wrote of the importance of the Church's role in helping young immigrants and others who are being educated in a country that is culturally different from their place of origin.

Lastly, he addressed the young migrants, encouraging them to build a better society by fulfilling their duties to family and the State.   "Be respectful of the laws and never let yourselves be carried away by hatred and violence."  He encouraged them to cultivate a close relationship with Jesus "in prayer and docile listening to his Word" and to be His witnesses:

"Coming from different cultures, but all united by belonging to the one Church of Christ, you can show that the Gospel is alive and suited to every situation; it is an old and ever new message.  It is a word of hope and salvation for the people of all races and cultures, of all ages and eras."

Christian Cultural Diversity Mentioned in the General Audience

On the same day when the Vatican released that Message, Pope Benedict also touched on Church diversity during his General Audience.  Speaking about St. Ephrem the Syrian, he said that he had wanted to show the Church's cultural diversity by speaking about the saint born in Nisbis as, the previous week, he spoke about Aphraates, who was from Persia.  Regarding that diversity, he said:

"According to general opinion, Christianity is a European religion that has exported the culture of this Continent to other countries. The reality, though, is a lot more complex, as the root of the Christian religion is found in the Old Testament, and therefore in Jerusalem and the Semitic world. Christianity has always nourished itself from its roots in the Old Testament.

"Also, its expansion during the first centuries was both westward -- toward the Greek-Latin world, where it then inspired the European culture -- and eastward to Persia and India, thus contributing to stimulate a specific culture, in Semitic languages, with its own identity."

The Global Diversity of 23 New Cardinals: Homily for the Consistory

In mentioning together, in one post, these several references to the cultural diversity within the Church, it should also be remembered that Pope Benedict specifically acknowledged such diversity in his selection of 23 new cardinals who received their red hats last Saturday.  In his homily for the consistory, the Pope said of that diversity, "Times have changed and today the great family of Christ's disciples has spread on every continent to the furthest corners of the earth."  The diversity of the College of Cardinals, he said, "due both to their geographical provenance and their cultural background, enhance this providential growth and at the same time highlight the different pastoral requirements to which the Pope must respond."

Areas of diversity within the Church might be seen to encompass the diversity of liturgical forms, such as that allowing for various rites (including the rite used by the Anglican Use churches in the U.S.) and the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum allowing expanded use of the Latin Roman liturgy from before the 1970 reform, as well as the use of an eastern rite in parishes formed by eastern immigrants to western countries. 

Moreover, in viewing these various discussions of global cultural diversity together, it seems clear that Pope Benedict XVI has a great interest in adapting to diversity within the Church and seeking unity that allows for the diversity of cultures throughout the world.

The Church and Russia

Two items caught my attention today that have, as their common element, the Church and Russian faith and culture.  One of the two is actually several weeks old, but I only became aware of it today.

The new item, of the two, concerns a historic visit to Paris next Wednesday by Russian Orthodox Patriarch Alexis II.  Patrice de Plunkett reports, based upon an announcement yesterday by Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard, the president of the French Bishop's Conference.  Cardinal Ricard will receive the Russian Orthodox Patriarch at a luncheon at the House of the French Bishop's Conference on October 3 at 12:30.  At the end of the day, the Patriarch will be welcomed by Archbisop André Vingt-Trois, Archbishop of Paris, at Notre Dame Cathedral, where he will venerate the relic of the Holy Crown of Thorns.  This will be the first visit by a Patriarch of Moscow to Paris, and an important ecumenical event.

The other item I came across today is the Vatican's giving the Robert Bresson Award to Russian filmmaker Aleksandr Sokurov at the Venice Film Festival on September 6, as reported by Russia Today.   That article explains, "Aleksandr Sokurov’s films analyse eternal matters. Rich in atmosphere and music, they speak of life, death and power."  Not being a movie buff, I really know only one of Sokurov's films, but I have seen that one several times and think it is magnificent: Russian Ark.  The YouTube videos from Russian Ark shown here include (1) an intriguing 10 minute portion involving Russia's Christian heritage shown in art at the Hermitage Museum and (2)  the film's preview showing some of its beauty.  It is a complex film that is easily worth watching twice in a first sitting.  There is much subtlety best understood after watching it all the way through.

Progress Toward Christian Unity

In today's General Audience, the Pope again turned his attention to the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.  Asia News has an article with quotations.  Full translations are available from the Vatican, Zenit and Papa Ratzinger Forum. 

Today, he summarized his ecumenical meetings of the past year, speaking of them as "moments of joy, of great significance in this slow ascent to unity."  Here is an excerpt from Zenit:

"We commend ourselves to the constant intercession of the Mother of God and of our protector saints so that they will support and help us not to fail in our good intentions, so that they will encourage us to intensify all efforts, praying and working with confidence, convinced that the Holy Spirit will do the rest. He will give us complete unity when and how it pleases him. And, strengthened by this confidence, let us go forward on the path of faith, of hope and of charity. The Lord is guiding us."

Yesterday, Cardinal Walter Kasper briefed the news media.  An article from Catholic News Agency discusses his statements on the progress, particularly including a discussion of the state of Catholic-Orthodox dialogue and also mentioning discussions between Catholics and Protestants.  Catholic News Agency offers the following summary of Cardinal Kasper's statement about ecumenical discussions planned for the coming year:

"As for forthcoming ecumenical events, the Cardinal mentioned September’s European ecumenical meeting, due to be held in Sibiu, Romania; the plenary session of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between Catholics and Orthodox, due to be held in Ravenna, Italy in 2007; and the second ecumenical congress of communities and movements, "Together for Europe," to be held in Stuttgart, Germany.  Kasper also mentioned the possibility of Pope Benedict’s presence at the Ravenna meeting."

Justification and the Holy Spirit in Ecumenical Progress

Pope Benedict XVI today addressed members of an ecumenical delegation from Finland.  The address, given in English, can be read on the Vatican website or on Zenit.  Today is the feast day of St. Henrik of Uppsala, who is the patron saint of Finland.

The Pope spoke of Catholics and Protestants praying and working together, being a "convincing testimony to the guiding and saving truths of the Gospel that all men and women seek or need to hear."  He mentioned several documents in the address, drawing points concerning ecumenism from each of them. 

This post quotes more extensively from the documents mentioned in that address in hopes of drawing out more clearly those aspects of them that were the basis for the Holy Father's address.

He mentioned the theme from the booklet for this year's Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which is "He even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak (Mk 7:37)."  Drawing from that booklet, he mentioned how the "charge of common witness in word" draws us closer to Christ and thus to each other.  The booklet for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity says this on the theme and its implications for common witness:

"As the body of Christ, the church is called to be one, the community which has heard and seen the marvels which God has done, and has been sent forth to proclaim them to the ends of the earth.  As Christ’s body, we are called to be united in carrying out his mission. . . .

"Drawing together two strands of the church’s life and mission, this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is intent on emphasizing that there is an essential connection between efforts to pray for and seek unity among Christians and initiatives to respond to human need and suffering. The same Spirit which makes us brothers and sisters in Christ also empowers us to reach out to every human being in need.  The same Spirit which is at work in all efforts to make visible the unity of Christians also gives strength to every movement towards renewing the face of the earth. Every easing of human suffering makes our oneness more visible; every step towards unity strengthens the whole body of Christ."

Concerning the "courage" required by this "convincing testimony to the guiding and saving truths of the Gospel", the Pope then turned to the themes of justification and the foregiveness of sins that are "central to the theme of our relationship with God."  He mentioned his reference to that point given at the ecumenical vespers service during his journey to Bavaria, and said "In this sense our first task will perhaps be to rediscover in a new way the living God present in our lives, in our time, and in our society.”  In his homily for that Ecumenical Vespers service, he had said:

"The agreement on justification remains an important task, which – in my view – is not yet fully accomplished: in theology justification is an essential theme, but in the life of the faithful today – it seems to me – it is only dimly present. Because of the dramatic events of our time, the theme of mutual forgiveness is felt with increased urgency, yet there is little perception of our fundamental need of God’s forgiveness, of our justification by him. Our modern consciousness – and in some way all of us are “modern” - is generally no longer aware of the fact that we stand as debtors before God and that sin is a reality which can be overcome only by God’s initiative. Behind this weakening of the theme of justification and of the forgiveness of sins is ultimately a weakening of our relation with God.  In this sense, our first task will perhaps be to rediscover in a new way the living God present in our lives, in our time and in our society."

The third source from which he drew was the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification entered into between Catholics and Lutherans, saying that it "covered a considerable distance theologically," and adding:  "I hope and pray that these conversations will effectively contribute to the quest for full and visible unity of the Church, while at the same time offering an ever clearer response to the fundamental questions affecting life and society."  In sections 16 through 18 of that Joint Declaration, there are statements of the centrality of justification to Christianity, as seen by both Catholics and Lutherans:

"16.All people are called by God to salvation in Christ. Through Christ alone are we justified, when we receive this salvation in faith. Faith is itself God's gift through the Holy Spirit who works through word and sacrament in the community of believers and who, at the same time, leads believers into that renewal of life which God will bring to completion in eternal life.

17.We also share the conviction that the message of justification directs us in a special way towards the heart of the New Testament witness to God's saving action in Christ: it tells us that as sinners our new life is solely due to the forgiving and renewing mercy that God imparts as a gift and we receive in faith, and never can merit in any way.

18.Therefore the doctrine of justification, which takes up this message and explicates it, is more than just one part of Christian doctrine. It stands in an essential relation to all truths of faith, which are to be seen as internally related to each other. It is an indispensable criterion which constantly serves to orient all the teaching and practice of our churches to Christ. When Lutherans emphasize the unique significance of this criterion, they do not deny the interrelation and significance of all truths of faith. When Catholics see themselves as bound by several criteria, they do not deny the special function of the message of justification. Lutherans and Catholics share the goal of confessing Christ in all things, who alone is to be trusted above all things as the one Mediator (1 Tim 2:5f) through whom God in the Holy Spirit gives himself and pours out his renewing gifts. [cf. Sources for section 3]."

Lastly, the Pope said that "the Holy Spirit is the real protagonist of the ecumenical endeavour," citing by comparison the Decree on Ecumenism: Unitatis Redintegratio (November 21, 1964).  Concerning the Holy Spirit and unity, Unitatis Redintegratio stated:

"This is the sacred mystery of the unity of the Church, in Christ and through Christ, the Holy Spirit energizing its various functions. It is a mystery that finds its highest exemplar and source in the unity of the Persons of the Trinity: the Father and the Son in the Holy Spirit, one God."

Steps on the Long Road to Unity

Pope Benedict XVI spoke about the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which begins tomorrow, in his words in today's General Audience.  He called on people not to be discouraged by the long and difficult road to unity, but rather to continue that road through praying for unity as a gift, drawing closer to God and to His love, and through charitable works that show our shared understanding.  He also mentioned the day of Jewish-Christian reflection that takes place today in some countries, including Italy.  Asia News and Catholic News Agency have articles.  Full translations are available from the Vatican, Zenit and Papa Ratzinger Forum. 

Here is an excerpt from Zenit:

"The prayer for Christian unity, however, cannot be limited to a week of the year. The joint invocation to the Lord, to bring about, when and how he knows, the full unity of all his disciples, must be extended to each day of the year.

"Moreover, the harmony of objectives in the "diakonia" to relieve man's sufferings, the search for the truth of Christ's message, conversion and penance, are imperative stages through which every Christian worthy of the name must unite with his brother to implore the gift of unity and communion. "

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

"The same Spirit which is at work in all efforts to make visible the unity of Christians also gives strength to every movement towards renewing the face of the earth. Every easing of human suffering makes our oneness more visible; every step towards unity strengthens the whole body of Christ."

- Resources for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2007 this year draw from an original concept created in Africa.

January 18 to 25 is the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.  The Resources available on the website of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity include Scripture texts, prayers, and reflections for use in worship services and personal prayer time during those 8 days and a reminder to seek opportunities throughout the year to further Christian unity.

The timing for the week is set between the feast of St. Peter and the feast of St. Paul.  In Rome, on the feast of St. Paul which draws the week to a close, the Pope will preside at Vespers at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls.  The service is scheduled to be televised live by Vatican Television.  It will be on January 25 at 5:30 p.m. in Rome, 8:30 a.m. Pacific Time, and 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time.  Go here or here to watch Vatican Television online.  It will also be broadcast live by EWTN with English commentary.  EWTN will then re-broadcast it at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time, 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.  To watch EWTN online, hold your cursor over "Television" on the website and follow the links for Live TV.   

In San Diego, the special observances included this week will include an Anglican/Roman Catholic Day of Dialogue on Saturday and a concert of Ecumenical Hymns on Sunday afternoon.  For more information, see the Blog by-the-Sea calendar link in the sidebar.

Vatican Radio news broadcasts related to Ecumenism can be heard online from the Vatican Radio website.   

A Communion Beyond Borders

The Taizé website has a page with the Meditations by Brother Alois given this week to the international ecumenical gathering in Zageb, Croatia.  That page now includes Brother Alois' words at today's Mass, which was televised in France and by satellite.  The meeting has been attended by around 40,000 youth from various countries.  It ends tomorrow. 

Here is a short excerpt from Brother Alois' words today at the ecumenical Mass on the last full day of their meeting:

"Perhaps much more than we realize, you young people can awaken in our modern societies attentiveness to God. First of all by your life. But also with a few simple words, you can share trust in God with those who are around you, friends, believers or non-believers.

"Doubts and hesitations should not stop you! They are part of a life in the steps of Christ. Trust in God involves an inner combat. This combat will make your words credible. We cannot keep what touches our heart only for ourselves."

And this is from yesterday's meditation:

"These days we are experiencing a communion that goes beyond the borders of nations and denominations. There are many young Orthodox from different countries among us. With two other brothers, just before our meeting, I visited Serbia to pray in the churches. What joy that young people from Serbia have come to Zagreb! We would like to greet them specially this evening.

"You know how Brother Roger sought communion and reconciliation with passion. He communicated that passion to us brothers, and we share it with all of you so that a new face of the world can be born from that communion.

"It is Christ who brings us together. . . ."

Looking Toward the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian United has posted its Resources for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, 2007 for those organizing the week.  That week is January 18 to 25, with January 21 being the Sunday that falls within that week this year.  This year's theme is "He even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak" (from Mark 7:37).  The council's materials explain that this brings together two themes "to pray and strive together for Christian unity, and to join together in responding to human suffering." 

The guidelines include Scripture readings and prayers for the 8 day period and explain how this year's theme developed.  They are offered for use in churches, ecumenical gatherings, and personal prayer.  Each year, the materials are drafted with one local setting in mind and then adapted for international ecumenical use.  The first draft of this year's materials was developed in  the Umlazi region of South Africa, and the materials make reference to the ecumenical situation in South Africa.

The Church in Africa will also be one of the themes of the Holy Father's prayer intentions for the month of January, as announced yesterday by Vatican Information Service:

"Pope Benedict XVI's general prayer intention for January 2007 is: 'That in our time, unfortunately marked by many episodes of violence, the pastors of the Church may continue to indicate the way of peace and understanding among peoples."   His mission intention is: "That the Church in Africa may become a constantly more authentic witness of the Good News of Christ and be committed, in every nation, to the promotion of reconciliation and peace.'"

Cardinal Walter Kasper, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, has also written a booklet titled "A Handbook for Christian Ecumenism".  Catholic News Service has an article about that booklet.  Amazon U.K. and amazon.com have the 96-page booklet (Amazon.com presently has one copy left in stock.  Amazon U.K. offers it on 4 to 6 week availability, but Amazon U.K. also has a variety of stores offering the booklet in stock, including stores in the U.S. and the U.K that have it now in stock.)  The CNS article says the booklet is expected to be available in Italian in time for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Amazon.Fr has it scheduled for release in French on January 7.   I could not find it as an online download, but would not be surprised if it is made available as a free download some time next year.

The Pope's letter to the international gathering of the Taizé Community

From December 28 to January 1, more than 40,000 youth from throughout the world  are expected to gather in Zagreb, Croatia, for the annual international meeting of the Ecumenical Taizé Community.  As for such meetings in the past, most of the young people will stay in the homes of local families in and around Zagreb.  Eucharistie Miséricordieuse today has an article about the meeting and about the Pope's letter to them, following an earlier article from December 23 about that meeting and letter.  That letter, written in French, was published in the December 23 issue of the Bolletino La Stampa della Santa Sede.  Here is a translation of the letter (my translation):

"The Pope wishes that all of you, the youth, gathered in Zagreb will increasingly be aware of the importance of brotherhood among men and the necessity of opening up to all of the people who surround you.  Thus, in a renewed awareness of others, you will contribute your share to the establishment of more brotherly relations, so that throughout the planet, the human family will be realized concretely, in which each person will be received and loved for himself, will be recognized and respected as a child of God.  In this Croatian land, marked in past years by conflicts, you are the sign of a new hope and you show that you, the youth, want a new humanity, founded on the recognition of all people, independently from their nationality, from their religion.  As Christians, marked by one Baptism which makes us all together sons of the same Father, you are called to show that the evangelical message is universal and joins all men on the way of life.  By your looking to others, by your attention to each one, may you make Christ present, he who calls you to will and to do like him.  It is by this that you will be truly free, and that you will live your human and Christian responsibility.

"Entrusting you to the intercession of the Virgin Mary, Mother of believers, His Holiness Benedict XVI grants to you from the depth of his heart the affectionate apostolic blessing, as well as to the Brothers of Taizé, to all of the people who organized this pilgrimage, to the Pastors and to the faithful who welcome you, and to your families."

Today's article in Eucharistie Miséricordeuse also quotes from a letter from the prior of  Taizé, Brother Aloïs: "The time has come when we can take new steps in the construction of a new future of peace, with the Croatian youth, their neighbors and the youth of all of Europe."  Brother Aloïs encouraged them to resist discrimination and to manifest a visible unity, calling them to a "common prayer."

Other messages were sent to the ecumenical gathering by Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations; Bartholomew I, Patriarch of Constantinople; Alexis II, Patriarch of Moscow; and Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury.  The Program for the meeting can be found on the Taizé website, along with last minute information for participants and supplemental information for participants from English-speaking countries, as each language group has its own reception point.  Some television coverage will be available in France and by satellite for the Eucharistic celebration on Sunday, December 31. 

The Address of His Beatitude Christodoulos to Pope Benedict XVI

Here is my English translation of the Address of His Beatitude Christodoulos to Pope Benedict XVI on the occasion of their meeting at the Vatican on December 14, 2006 (from the Vatican's French):

Holiness Bishop and Pope of Rome,

With joy, we come today from the Apostolic Church of Athens in pilgrimage to the monuments of the saints, especially Saint Paul, the Apostle of the Nations, founder of our Church, located in the famous City of Old Rome.  We come to prostrate ourselves on the tomb of the Holy Apostle Peter, and to pay homage to the martyrs of the catacombs, and to the Greek saints Cyril and Methodius, equal to the Apostles.  We come to pray so that Christ’s truth shines in the world, by applying ourselves "to maintain the unity of Spirit in the bond of peace" (1) so that "we grow in all ways into Him who is the head, into Christ" (2).  With joy, we come on  your courteous invitation, in the capacity of Primate of the very holy Church of Greece, to visit you for the first time in your capacity as Bishop of this city.  We come to you, the eminent theologian and academic, the assiduous researcher of ancient Greek thought and the Greek Fathers of the East; but also the visionary of the unity of Christians and the co-operation of religions to ensure the peace of the whole world.  We remember our previous meeting, on April 8, 2005, the day of the funeral of the blessed Pope John Paul II.  The visit that this great Pope of eternal memory paid to Athens, and our meeting, on May 4, 2001, during which we had had the opportunity to exchange words of love and truth, showed our common desire there to lay the cornerstone, to build comprehension, forgiveness, reconciliation and purification of the Church’s memory.

Today, we give thanks to God for the prodigal opportunity to exchange with Your Holiness the brotherly kiss of charity.  We thus reach a new stage on our Churches’ common path of facing the present world’s problems.  Our Churches’ perpetuation of the veneration of holy relics was often emphasized at the time of the Church of Rome’s courteous return of such relics to our Church’s various metropolitan dioceses and places of pilgrimage.  We are waiting to receive, in the hours which follow, a fragment of the chains of Saint Paul the Apostle, which will be preciously and piously preserved in the very holy Church of Athens.

With great satisfaction, we recall that official delegations from the Church of Greece have gone to the Holy See, notably since 2002, charged with deepening mutual knowledge, informing and cooperating in the social, cultural, educational, ecological and bioethics fields.  We bring to mind, among others, the official delegations sent to the Church of Greece, led by His Eminence Cardinal Walter Kasper in 2003, and others directed respectively by their Eminences Cardinals Jean-Louis Tauran, Dionigi Tettamanzi and Angelo Scola.  We think also of the visits that were paid to us by His Excellency Bishop Vincenzo Apicella, with the head of a delegation of clergy from the Diocese of Rome, and His Excellency Bishop Josef Homayer, president emeritus of COMECE (3), who stressed the importance of a collaboration attended by a delegation of our Church in the European Union with the aforementioned Commission, in order to give to the twenty-first century European a credible message of the Gospel of life, grace and freedom, thanks to this co-operation.

We must acknowledge the many members of our Church, clergy and laity, who pursued higher education in Roman Catholic educational institutions, benefiting from scholarships granted by the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity.  In turn, by way of reciprocating this brotherly gift, during the past two years, we allotted grants to fifty Catholic ecclesiastics and novices, who are studying in Rome, enabling them to learn Greek, and to familiarize themselves with Greek culture and Orthodox tradition.  We particularly want to continue this program of understanding and co-operation.

On this occasion, we especially wish to emphasize the good collaboration established between our Churches to publish the facsimile of Basil II’s “Menologion”, one of the most important illuminated Byzantine manuscripts, preserved at the Vatican’s Apostolic Library.

The memory of all this, as well as the living hope of transcending dogmatic obstacles that block the path of unity in faith, enrich our prayer and reinforce our will to live full unity by consensus, and to share communion in the Lord’s precious Body and Blood in the same moment of life.  To this end, we wish for the international joint commission, overseeing dialogue between the Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church, to succeed in its work.

The conditions which inform the new face of the world today, especially Europe, require on our part - in our capacity as spiritual fathers of the pious members of our Churches - vigilance in giving timely warnings about all that threatens the values and structures of the European civilization, deeply impregnated with the Christian faith: the current advocacy of increasing de-Christianization, with the goal of excluding the Church from public life, and its social marginalization; problems created by the displacement of thousands of refugees and migrants from any place of origin; dangers resulting from religious fanaticism; presumptuous developments, touching the limits of offence, in the old Greek sense of the term, genetic biotechnology; the widening chasm between the rich and the poor; the risks to which the youth are exposed; the possibility of a conflict between civilizations and religions; the need to preserve the spiritual and cultural identity of European citizens and the family, the building block of society; the depreciation and the devaluation of the human being, often even surreptitiously, often under the guise of humans rights; the frenzy of consumption cultivated by all means and, its corollary, the production of a conditioned way of life whose sole value is pleasure, whatever the psychological price.  In short, many social problems, about which you have often spoken, are true challenges for us, which we are ready to take on, in the true spirit of life in Christ.  In this particular case, the contribution of Orthodox theological and pastoral discourse is absolutely necessary.  The Church must reach out its hand to hold and save the drowning from the torrent of Baal.  It seems that, in the extremely media conscious present day world, She must adopt modern means of communication and speak contemporary language to the man of our time.  That must be done without allowing these technical means to alter our discourse, and without compromising our message with the form of communication.  She is obligated to oppose the State and world superpowers, when she considers that their decisions harm the living image of God on earth.  This she must do, without yielding to the temptation to think herself a power of this world.

However, by calling upon the intercession of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, like that of our holy Athenian predecessors, Anaclet, Hygeinos, Sixtus II, we wish you personally, holiness, health and long life "may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and a good hope by grace, comfort you and strengthen you in all that you do and all that you say for the good" (4).

(1) Eph. 4:3.

(2) Cf. Eph. 4:15.

(3) Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community.

(4) II Thess. 2:16-17.

The Address of Pope Benedict XVI to His Beatitude Christodoulos

Here is my English translation of the Address of Pope Benedict XVI to His Beatitude Christodoulos on the occasion of their meeting at the Vatican on December 14, 2006 (from the Vatican's original French):

"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 1:3)

Beatitude,

Dear Brothers in Christ who accompany the venerable Archbishop of Athens and all Greece on the occasion of our fraternal meeting, I greet you in the Lord.

With a profound joy, I am happy to welcome you with the same expression that St. Paul addressed "to the Church of God which is at Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 1:2).  In the name of the Lord and with a sincere and brotherly affection, I welcome you among us in the Church of Rome, and I thank God who allows us to live this moment of grace and spiritual joy.

Your presence here revives in us the great Christian tradition which was born and which grew in your beloved and glorious Fatherland.  Through reading the Epistles of St. Paul and the Acts of the Apostles, this tradition reminds us each day of the first Christian communities formed in Corinth, Thessalonica and Philippi.  So we recall St. Paul’s presence and preaching in Athens, and his courageous proclamation of faith in the unknown God, revealed in Jesus Christ, and the message of the Resurrection, difficult for his contemporaries to hear.

In the first Epistle to the Christians in Corinth, who were the first to know difficulties and serious temptations of division, we can see a contemporary message for all Christians. Indeed, a real danger appears when people want to be identified with this or that group while saying: “I belong to Paul, or I to Apollos, or I belong to Cephas.”  It is at this point that Paul poses the frightening question: "Is Christ divided?"  (1 Cor. 1:13).

Greece and Rome developed their relationship from the dawn of Christianity and continued their interaction, which gave life to various types of communities and Christian traditions in the regions of the world that today correspond to Eastern Europe and Western Europe.  These intense relationships also helped to create a kind of osmosis in forming ecclesiastical institutions.  That osmosis - protecting the disciplinary, liturgical, theological and spiritual characteristics of the two traditions, Roman and Greek – made the Church’s evangelistic work and the cultivation of the Christian faith fruitful.

Today, our relationship begins anew, slowly but deeply, with a concern about authenticity.  It is, for us, the opportunity to discover a whole new range of spiritual expressions, rich in significance and mutual commitment.  We give thanks to God for it.

The memorable visit of my venerated predecessor, Pope John Paul II, to Athens, in the context of his pilgrimage in the steps of St. Paul, in 2001, remains a turning point in the increasing intensification of our contacts and collaboration.  During that pilgrimage, Pope John Paul II was welcomed with honor and respect by Your Beatitude and by the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece, and we remember in particular the moving meeting at the Areopagus where St. Paul preached.  Exchanges of delegations of priests and students followed.

In the same way, I neither want to forget, nor could I, the fruitful collaboration that was established between the “Apostoliki Diakonia” and the Vatican’s Apostolic Library.

Such initiatives contribute to a concrete mutual knowledge, and I do not doubt that they will have their role in promoting new interactions between the Church of Greece and the Church of Rome.

If we turn our glance towards the future, Beatitude, we have before our eyes a vast field in which our cultural and pastoral collaboration will be able to grow.

The various countries of Europe work toward the creation of new Europe, which cannot be an exclusively economic reality.  Catholics and Orthodox are called to offer their cultural and, especially, spiritual contribution.  Indeed, they have the duty to defend the continent’s Christian roots, which fashioned it over centuries, and thus to make it possible for the Christian tradition to continue to speak out and to work with all its strength for the protection of human dignity and respect for minorities, taking care to avoid a cultural standardization which would likely involve the loss of immense richness of civilization; in the same way, it is right to work for the protection of human rights, including the principle of individual freedom, especially religious freedom; these rights should be promoted and defended in the European Union and in each country which is its member.

At the same time, it is right to form a collaboration among Christians in each country of the European Union, in order to face new risks confronting the Christian faith, namely, increasing secularization, relativism and nihilism, which open the way to behaviors and even to legislation that undermines a person’s inalienable dignity, and which question institutions as fundamental as marriage.  It is urgent to undertake joint pastoral work, which will constitute a common testimony for our contemporaries and will prepare us to account for the hope that is within us.

Your presence here, in Rome, Beatitude, is the sign of this common commitment.  On its part, the Catholic Church profoundly wishes to undertake all that is possible for our reconciliation, so that we can arrive at full communion between Catholics and Orthodox, and, for the present, supports a pastoral collaboration on all possible levels, so that the Gospel will be proclaimed and the name of God will be blessed.

Beatitude, I repeat my welcome wish to yourself and to the beloved brothers who accompany you in your visit.  Entrusting you to the intercession of the Theotokos, I ask the Lord to fill you with the abundance of celestial Blessings.

Update: As of Jan. 2007, there is now an official Vatican translation of this address.

Common Declaration between Pope Benedict XVI and Abp. Christodoulos

Here is an English translation, by me, of the Common Declaration entered into today between Pope Benedict XVI and Christodoulos, the Orthodox Archbishop of Athens and all Greece.  The original French text was taken from Eucharistie Miséricordieuse.

After their private meeting of this morning and the exchange of addresses, the Pope and His Grace Christodoulos, Archbishop of Athens and all Greece, signed the following common declaration in French and Greek:

Common Declaration:

1.  We, Benedict XVI, Pope and Bishop of Rome, and Christodoulos, Archbishop of Athens and all Greece, in this sacred place of Rome, made famous by the evangelistic preaching and the martyrdom of the Apostles Peter and Paul, wish to live ever more intensely our mission of giving an apostolic testimony, of transmitting the faith to those who are near and to those afar, and of proclaiming to them the Good News of the Saviour’s birth that we will both soon celebrate.  It is also our common responsibility to overcome, in love and in truth, the multiple difficulties and the painful experiences of the past, for the glory of God, the Holy Trinity, and of His holy Church.

2.  Our meeting in charity renders us more conscious of our common task: to travel together the difficult path of dialogue in truth in order to restore full communion of faith in the bond of love.  Thereby we will obey the divine commandment, and will carry out the prayer of our Lord Jesus Christ, and, enlightened by the Holy Spirit who accompanies and never abandons the Church of Christ, we will continue our commitment, following the apostolic example and showing mutual love and the spirit of reconciliation.

3.  We recognize the important steps accomplished in the dialogue of charity and by the decisions of the Vatican II Council concerning relations between us.  Moreover, we hope that bilateral theological dialogue will make good use of these positive elements to formulate proposals that will be accepted by both sides in a spirit of reconciliation, like our famous Father of the Church, St. Basil the Great, who in a period of multiple divisions in the ecclesial body was persuaded “that with more durable reciprocal communications and discussions without a quarrelsome spirit, if some new explanation is needed, the Lord will provide it, He who makes all things work together for the good of those who love him (Letter 113).

4.  We unanimously affirm the need for persevering on the path of a constructive theological dialogue.  For, despite acknowledged difficulties, this way is one of the essential ways we have to restore the unity that is so greatly desired in the ecclesial body, around the altar of the Lord, as well as to reinforce the credibility of the Christian message during a time of upheaval in societies, in which we live, but also a time of great spiritual searching, among many of our contemporaries, who are also anxious in the face of increasing globalization, which sometimes threatens man, even in his existence and his relationship with God and with the world.

5.  We solemnly renew our desire to proclaim to the world the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and in particular to new generations, for the love of Christ compels us (II Cor. 5:14) to let them discover the Lord who is come into our world so that all might have life, and might have it abundantly.  That is particularly important in our societies, in which many currents of thought move away from God and do not give meaning to existence.  We wish to proclaim the Gospel of grace and love, so that all may be in communion with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and that their joy may be perfect.

6.  We think that religions have a role to play in ensuring the spread of peace in the world, and that they must by no means be hearths of intolerance or violence.  As Christian religious leaders, together we exhort all religious leaders to continue and to reinforce inter-faith dialogue, and to work to create a society of peace and fraternity among individuals and among peoples.  Such is one of the missions of religions.  It is in this way that Christians work and wish to continue to work in the world, with all men and women of good will, in a spirit of solidarity and fraternity.

7. We wish to pay homage to the impressive progress made in all fields of science, in particular in those that concern humanity, however inviting leaders and scientists to respect the sacred character of the human person and his dignity, for his life is a divine gift.  We are concerned to see that sciences practice experiments on human being, which respect neither dignity nor the integrity of the person in all the stages of existence, from conception to his natural end.

8.  Moreover we seek to show greater sensitivity, to more effectively protect, in our countries, in Europe, and at the international level, basic human rights, founded on the dignity of the person created in the image of God.

9. We hope for a fertile collaboration to enable our contemporaries to rediscover the Christian roots of the European Continent, which forged the various nations and contributed to the development of increasingly more harmonious bonds among themselves.  That will help them to live and to promote fundamental human and spiritual values for the people, as for the development of societies themselves.

10.  We recognize the merits of technological and economic progress for a great number of modern societies.  However, we also invite the rich countries to pay greater attention to countries in the process of development and to the poorest countries, in a spirit of interdependent and grateful sharing as all the men are our brothers, and that it is our duty to come to the assistance of the smallest and the poorest, who are the Lord’s beloved.  In the same way, it is also important not to abusively exploit creation, which is the work of God.  We call upon people who have responsibilities in society, and upon all people of goodwill, that all engage in a reasonable and respectful management of creation, so that it will be properly managed, with the concern of solidarity, especially toward people who are in situations of famine, and to leave for future generations an earth truly habitable for all.

11.  Because of our common convictions, we repeat our desire to collaborate in the development of society, in a constructive co-operation, for the service to mankind and to the peoples, by giving a testimony of the faith and hope which enliven us.

12.  Thinking in particular of the Orthodox and Catholic faithful, we greet them and entrust them to Christ the Saviour, so that they will be tireless witnesses of God’s love, and we offer a fervent prayer that the Lord will give to all the gift of peace, in the charity and unity of the human family.

Some links to articles about Pope Benedict's Meeting with Abp. Christodoulos

Zenit has an article about their meeting and joint declaration, including this quote about their addresses to each other during their private meeting today in the Pope's private library:

After their private meeting today, the members of the Orthodox archbishop's entourage entered the Pope's private library to hear both addresses.

Benedict XVI spoke first, attesting that "today, our relations resumed slowly but profoundly and with a concern of authenticity."

"It offers us the opportunity to discover a whole new range of spiritual expressions full of meaning and a mutual commitment. We thank God," the Pope said.

This afternoon, Abp. Christodoulos took part in a solemn celebration at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls.  He was then given the two links from the chain thought to have bound St. Paul, symbolizing the link between East and West.  (I had thought this was planned for Friday, but it was in fact done today.)

Catholic News Service also has an article, including this about the common declaration:

The pope formally welcomed the primate of the Orthodox Church of Greece to the Vatican Dec. 14, solemnly signing with him a commitment to preaching the Gospel together and to working for full communion.
 
"We want to live more intensely our mission of giving an apostolic witness, of transmitting the faith to those who are near and those who are far," said the joint declaration, written in Greek and in French on a large piece of parchment.

Here are links to the original French text of Abp. Christodoulos' address  to Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Benedict XVI's address to Archbishop Christodoulos, and the Common Declaration they signed together today.  Vatican News Service has all three in French and Greek.

The Orthodox Primate of Greece Arrives Today in Rome

Archbishop Christodoulos, the primate of the Greek Orthodox Church arrives this evening in Rome from Athens for a 3-day visit.  On Friday, he will meet with Pope Benedict XVI, who plans to present him with 2 links from the chain that bound St. Paul. 

The visit has been awaited especially since the Pope's recent visit with the Ecumenical Patriarch in Istanbul last month.  Pope John Paul II originally extended an invitation to Archbishop Christodoulos in 2004, but the archbishop was unable to accept the invitation at that time.  He did journey to Rome for the funeral of Pope John Paul II.  In October, 2005, Pope Benedict renewed the invitation, and it was accepted.  Archbishop Christodoulos' arrival is considered an important sign of the warming of relationships between Catholics and the Orthodox Church. 

An article from today's news in French is available from La Croix.   Catholic World News had an English language article December 4 on the anticipated arrival and plans for the visit.

Ecumenical Dialogue and the Upcoming Meetings with Bartholomew I and Rowan Williams

On Friday, the Pope delivered a speech to the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, in which he spoke of Catholic dialogue with the Orthodox Churches.  He also mentioned dialogue with various Protestant denominations, particularly the Lutherans and Methodists, that has succeeded in overcoming some prejudice and reaching common ground on some issues.

An article about the speech is available from Asia News.  A Zenit article stressed that the Pope affirmed that the Vatican II objective of full Christian unity was also his objective.  Catholic News Agency reported that the Pope said that what "must be promoted above all" is "the ecumenism of love, which descends directly from the new commandment left by Jesus to His disciples. Love accompanied by coherent acts generates trust ... Ecumenical formation must also be intensified, on the basis of the fundamentals of Christian faith, in other words from the announcement of the love of God which was revealed in the face of Jesus Christ." Moreover, he expressed concern about recent differences between Christian bodies, which has "reduced their possibility of guiding public opinion."

Ecumenical developments are receiving particular attention now as the Pope prepares for a meeting with the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury this coming week and with the Orthodox ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople later this month. 

The Vatican has posted the Program for the Pope's journey to Istanbul (Constantinople) from November 28 to December 1.  The schedule includes meetings with Bartholomew I as well as with the Syrian Orthodox metropolitan and the Grand Rabbi of Turkey.  The Pope will also meet with the Catholic Episcopal Conference and will say Mass in Ephesus, among other events planned for the journey.

Zenit also reports that Bartholomew I, the ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople, has said that he awaits Benedict XVI's visit with "fraternal love."

In addition, at the conclusion of the plenary session of the Russian Conference of Catholic Bishops, apostolic nuncio Antonio Mennenini stated “Ecumenical activity is not just a choice made by certain clergymen, but the fulfillment of Christ’s will to unity among Christians,” according to Asia News.

The Pope's statements about different positions recently adopted by Christian bodies, and his emphasis that Christian unity must be the focus of ecumenical discussions, may receive more attention during his meeting this coming week with Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury.  Catholic News Service has an excellent article discussing differences between Catholics and Anglicans on issues such as the ordination of women, the conflicts among Anglicans, and their implications for that upcoming meeting, titled "Meeting of Pope, Archbishop of Canterbury May Highlight Anglican Rifts."

The Church of England's newspaper, Church Times, recently published an interview with Rowan Williams about his hopes for the upcoming visit to the Vatican.  One of the more interesting answers given was the following:

From what you know of Pope Benedict’s theology, what do you think you have in common? We both have a fairly solid formation in Patristics, and he did his research on Augustine; so at least we have Augustine to talk about. We both have a critical but none the less quite enthusiastic acquaintance with Hans Urs von Balthasar’s theology — I think he’s probably more critical than I am of von Balthasar. So I think there’s what you might call a broadly classical and sacramental theological perspective, shaped very much by mid-century, just-pre-Vatican II French and German thinking.

As has happened before, Rowan Williams sometimes makes a one-sentence, or one-phrase, statement on a complex theological issue that is left undeveloped in the remainder of the interview.  I would like to know more specifically what he had in mind in saying that he thinks Benedict XVI's view of Hans Urs von Balthasar's theology is "more critical than" his own. 

Of related interest, historian William Tighe posted a comment on Titusonenine last week about a possible new proposal from Catholic-leaning Anglicans to the Pope for an Anglican Uniate within the Catholic Church.  Ruth Gledhill posted an article based partly on that comment.

Earlier articles related to Catholic-Anglican affairs and the Archbishop of Canterbury can be found in this blog:

Hope Amid Difficulties in Catholic-Anglican Ecumenism

Cardinal Kasper on Women Priests and Bishops 

More on the Anglican Crisis and the Catholic Church

Rowan Cantuar: The Church and the Anglican Communion

An Interview with Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor

Vespers Closing the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Vatican Information Service has issued a press release with excerpts from Benedict XVI's homily last night at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, concluding the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.  In that homily, he discussed both his new encyclical released earlier that day and the importance of Christian unity.  A full transcript will probably follow.  Here is the press release:

VATICAN CITY, JAN 26, 2006 (VIS) - Yesterday evening in the basilica of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls, Benedict XVI presided at the second Vespers of the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul. The ceremony marked the end of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, the theme of which was: "Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them."

In his homily, the Pope affirmed that "the aspiration of all Christian communities and of each individual faithful to unity, and the strength to achieve it, are gifts of the Holy Spirit, and go hand in hand with an ever more profound and radical faithfulness to the Gospel. We realize that conversion of heart lies at the base of ecumenical commitment."

Recalling the title of his first Encyclical, "Deus caritas est," the Holy Father stated: "God is Love. Upon this firm rock the entire faith of the Church rests. ... Fixing our gaze on this truth, the peak of divine revelation, divisions, while maintaining their painful magnitude, appear surmountable and do not discourage us."

"True love," he went on, "does not cancel legitimate differences, but harmonizes them into a higher unity, one that is not imposed from outside, but that from within gives form, so to say, to the whole."

Benedict XVI then indicated that "the longed-for achievement of unity depends, in the first instance, upon the will of God, Whose design and generosity surpass man's understanding, even exceeding his requests and expectations. By relying on divine goodness, we intensify our common prayer for unity, which is a necessary and highly effective instrument."

"Unity is our shared mission; it is the condition necessary for the light of Christ to spread more effectively all over the world, that men and women may be converted and saved."

After highlighting the fact that much still remains to be done, Benedict XVI concluded by saying: "Let us not lose faith, rather let us resume the journey with greater energy. Christ goes before us and accompanies us. We rely upon His unfailing presence; from Him we implore, humbly and tirelessly, the precious gift of unity and peace."
HML/CHRISTIAN UNITY/ST. PAUL OUTSIDE-THE-WALLS       VIS 060126 (370)

The ZENIT article is here.

Another VIS press release discussed the Pope's remarks as he received members of the preparatory commission of the third European Ecumenical Assembly, including the following:

"Nonetheless, our presence as Christians will prove incisive and enlightening only if we have the courage to continue decisively down the path of reconciliation and unity. ... Everyone must show such strength, ... because we all have a specific responsibility towards the ecumenical progress of Christians on our continent and in the rest of the world."

The ZENIT article about those remarks is here.

The Prayer for Unity Is the Soul of the Ecumenical Movement

The P.I.M.E. Asia News - Italy news story on today's Angelus message from Pope Benedict XVI is online here.  ZENIT has a transcript of the message online here.  The message highlighted the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.  The Holy Father announced that "representatives from other churches and ecclesial communities will take part" in the Vespers service with him on January 25 at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls.  January 25 is both the feast day of the Conversion of St. Paul and the last day of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.  On that day, Pope Benedict XVI will release his first encyclical. 

An excerpt from today's Angelus message follows:

"The prayer for unity is the soul of the ecumenical movement, which, thanks be to God, advances throughout the world. Of course difficulties and trials are not lacking, but these also have their spiritual usefulness, as they drive us to have patience and perseverance and to grow in fraternal charity. God is love and only if we are converted to him and accept his Word will we all be united in the one Mystical Body of Christ."

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

January 18 to 25 is the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.   Here are a few resources available online:

The Vatican Information Service press release issued today is here.  Each day from January 18 to 25 will have a different theme.  Here is a list of the themes from the press release:

January 18: United through the presence of Christ. "One Lord, one Faith, one Baptism" (Ephesians 4: 5, 6).

January 19: Building Christian unity with Jesus in our midst - daily ecumenism. "You also ought to wash one another's feet" (John 13: 14).

January 20: Praying together in Jesus' name. "The Lord waits to be gracious to you" (Isaiah 30: 18).

January 21: From the past to the future - forgiveness and healing of memories. "Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy times seven " (Matthew 18: 22).

January 22: God's presence among us: a call to peace. "The Lord is with us" (Psalm 46).

January 23: Mission in Jesus' name. "So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost" (Matthew 18: 14).

January 24: Recognizing and welcoming God's presence in the other in Jesus' name "Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me" (Matthew 18: 5).

January 25: One in hope. "On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you" (John 14:20).

At the end of the week, on January 25, Pope Benedict XVI will preside at Vespers at the basilica of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls.  January 25 is also the feast of the Conversion of the Apostle Paul.

The Vatican website has resources here, including recommended Scriptures and reflections for 8 days and a list of the themes for the week for each year since 1968.

Also, here is a link to the Holy Father's Address to the Ecumenical Gathering in Cologne during Work Youth Day.  Here are a few select quotes from that Address, which offered the Holy Father's thoughts on ecumenism and prayer for Christian unity:

"Among Christians, fraternity is not just a vague sentiment, nor is it a sign of indifference to truth. As you just said, Bishop, it is grounded in the supernatural reality of the one Baptism which makes us all members of the one Body of Christ (cf. I Cor 12: 13; Gal 3: 28; Col 2: 12). . . .

It is the Lord's commandment, but also the imperative of the present hour, to carry on dialogue with conviction at all levels of the Church's life. This must obviously take place with sincerity and realism, with patience and perseverance, in complete fidelity to the dictates of one's conscience in the awareness that it is the Lord who gives unity, that we do not create it, that it is he who gives it but that we must go to meet him. . . .

It is obvious that this dialogue can develop only in a context of sincere and committed spirituality. We cannot "bring about" unity by our powers alone. We can only obtain unity as a gift of the Holy Spirit. Consequently, spiritual ecumenism - prayer, conversion and the sanctification of life - constitutes the heart of the meeting and of the ecumenical movement (cf.   Unitatis Redintegratio, n. 8;   Ut Unum Sint, 15ff., 21, etc.). It could be said that the best form of ecumenism consists in living in accordance with the Gospel."