"Hopes for Christian unity may not be spring fresh, but Pope Francis' fall calendar is filled with
ecumenical appointments.
Even as developments within Christian denominations seem to be solidifying differences that would make full unity difficult, there is no sign that the desire to meet and dialogue is waning. And, in fact, divided Christians are finding more opportunities to pray together and engage in joint work to help the poor and needy.
Pope Francis will open his season of ecumenical engagements Sept. 20 when he joins other Christian leaders and representatives of other religions in Assisi to commemorate the 30th anniversary of St. John Paul II's interreligious peace gathering. Ten days later, Pope Francis flies to Georgia, a predominantly Orthodox nation. In October, he will meet and pray with Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury and, at the end of the month, he will fly to Sweden to take part in ecumenical events launching commemorations of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.
The pope's visit to Assisi is scheduled to last just eight hours. But standing alongside Archbishop Welby and Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople -- as well as Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu and Sikh leaders -- will be an affirmation of a shared belief that true faith always seeks peace.
The pope's fall ecumenical activities will culminate in Lund, Sweden, Oct. 31 when he participates in a Catholic-Lutheran commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.
According to the Lutheran World Federation, co-host of the event, the gathering "will highlight the solid ecumenical developments between Catholics and Lutherans and the joint gifts received through dialogue."
In 2013, the Vatican and the federation issued a document on the
anniversary commemorations, insisting "no one who is theologically responsible can celebrate the division of Christians from one another."
Instead, the document "From Conflict to Communion," urges Catholics and Lutherans to recognize Martin Luther wanted to reform the church, not splinter it. After 500 years, it said, Christians may find it easier to see and experience their differences, but the world is in need of a united Christian witness and the season for that is now." CNS
Even as developments within Christian denominations seem to be solidifying differences that would make full unity difficult, there is no sign that the desire to meet and dialogue is waning. And, in fact, divided Christians are finding more opportunities to pray together and engage in joint work to help the poor and needy.
Pope Francis will open his season of ecumenical engagements Sept. 20 when he joins other Christian leaders and representatives of other religions in Assisi to commemorate the 30th anniversary of St. John Paul II's interreligious peace gathering. Ten days later, Pope Francis flies to Georgia, a predominantly Orthodox nation. In October, he will meet and pray with Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury and, at the end of the month, he will fly to Sweden to take part in ecumenical events launching commemorations of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.
The pope's visit to Assisi is scheduled to last just eight hours. But standing alongside Archbishop Welby and Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople -- as well as Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu and Sikh leaders -- will be an affirmation of a shared belief that true faith always seeks peace.
The pope's fall ecumenical activities will culminate in Lund, Sweden, Oct. 31 when he participates in a Catholic-Lutheran commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.
According to the Lutheran World Federation, co-host of the event, the gathering "will highlight the solid ecumenical developments between Catholics and Lutherans and the joint gifts received through dialogue."
In 2013, the Vatican and the federation issued a document on the
Instead, the document "From Conflict to Communion," urges Catholics and Lutherans to recognize Martin Luther wanted to reform the church, not splinter it. After 500 years, it said, Christians may find it easier to see and experience their differences, but the world is in need of a united Christian witness and the season for that is now." CNS
And upon her forehead was a name written,
MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT,
THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS
AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
Revelation 17:5