Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - “In the course of 50 years, it has covered much territory...They are 50 years in which a truer knowledge and greater esteem have been acquired with the Churches and the ecclesial communities, overcoming prejudices cemented by history; there has been growth in the theological dialogue, but also in that of charity; several forms of collaboration have been developed, among which, in addition to those of the defense of life, the safeguarding of creation and the combating of injustice, important and fruitful has been that in the field of the ecumenical translations of sacred Scripture.” These were the words of the Holy Father Benedict XVI in an audience on November 18, in which he received participants in the Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. The Assembly's theme was: “Toward a New Stage of Ecumenical Dialogue,” on the occasion of its 50th anniversary as a Dicastery.
The Pope expressed his “heartfelt gratitude to all those who have given their service in the Pontifical Council” in these past 50 years, mentioning the Harvest Project that the Dicastery has been working on in recent years, “to sketch an initial evaluation of the goals achieved in the theological dialogues with the principal ecclesial communities of Vatican II.” Encouraging those present to continue in this “important work,” the Holy Father did not fail to highlight the fact that “today some think that this path, especially in the West, has lost its élan; noted now is the urgency to revive ecumenical interest and to give new incisiveness to the dialogues.” Thus, faced with the numerous challenges of today, Benedict XVI mentioned the need to “be aware of such changes and to identify the ways to proceed effectively in the light of the will of the Lord: 'That they may all be one' (John 17:21).”
In concluding his address, the Pope spoke of how “despite the presence of new problematic situations or difficult points for the dialogue, the aim of the ecumenical path remains unchanged, as does the firm commitment in pursuing it.” He then mentioned that “the unity of Christians is and remains prayer, it resides in prayer...we do not know the hour of the realization of the unity among all the disciples of Christ and we cannot know it, because unity is not 'made by us,' God 'makes' it: it comes from above, from the unity of the Father with the Son in the dialogue of love which is the Holy Spirit; it is a taking part in the divine unity. And this should not make our commitment diminish, rather, it should make us ever more attentive to receive the signs of the times of the Lord, knowing how to recognize with gratitude that which already unites us and working to consolidate it and make it grow.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 19/11/2010)
