Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service) - On Friday 26 November forty Christian Bishops, Orthodox, Syro-Orthodox, Apostolic Armenians, Anglicans, Lutherans and Catholics of various rites, coming from 18 different countries met in Nicaea where, almost 1,700 years ago during the 1st Ecumenical Council (325), the Christian Creed, named the Nicene Creed, was formulated. Aware of the sad consequences of unity fractured in the years, here in this symbolic place the Bishops made a solemn promise to put into practice the new Commandment of reciprocal love, «so that Christ may live among us and the world will believe thanks also to our contribution », said Cardinal Miloslav Vlk, Catholic Archbishop of Prague, one of the main promoters of the initiative. The participants said the meeting was one of the culminating events of the 23rd Ecumenical Conference of Bishop Friends of the Focolare Movement held, at the invitation of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, 23 November to 1 December in Constantinople (Istanbul). Addressing the Conference, Bartholomew I congratulated the Bishops on their zeal to promote the unity among all Christians and he reflected on the theme of the Conference: “Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am with them”(Mt 18, 20). With ample reference to Scripture and the Greek Fathers, the Patriarch focussed on three fundamental presuppositions for this promise to come true: “love for Christ, by keeping his commandments; faith in Him, by trusting in Him, and authentic faith and authentic knowledge of His person, arising from personal communion with Him”.
During the Conference the Bishops visited different Christian communities; they prayed together and learned about their spiritual treasures, their joys and sorrows. At Fanar, the See of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Bishops joined in special prayers of thanksgiving for the arrival from Rome of relics of St John Chrysostom and St Gregory the Theologian, an ecumenical act of great significance - as Patriarch Bartholomew I said in Rome- “which shows that in the Church of Christ no difficulties are insurmountable when love, justice and peace meet”. Participation continued with celebrations for the Feast of Saint Andrew, Patron Saint of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for which, besides a Vatican delegation led by Cardinal Walter Kasper, representatives of Orthodox Churches had come to Constantinople from all over the world.
Christ’s presence among those gathered in His name was not only the theme of the Conference, it was above all what was experienced during the gathering, and this- as the Bishops said - “built a strong bond of authentic brotherhood”. Three interventions prepared by Chiara Lubich illustrated the foundations of this ecumenical path born of the spirituality of communion lived by the Focolare Movement: “Dialogue of Life”, or “Dialogue of People” - Chiara Lubich explained - “is not dialogue at the basic level which counters or juxtaposes that at the summit or among the leaders of the Churches, it is dialogue in which all Christian can take part”. Whereas a Lutheran Bishop described his experience at the Conference with the words of a well known hymn “Ubi caritas et amor, ibi Deus est - where there is charity and love, there God is”.
(P.L.R.) (Agenzia Fides 3/12/2004 - Righe 35; Parole 535)
