VATICAN - Pope Benedict XVI in Bavaria - “It is the responsibility of Christians, now, to make visible the standards that indicate a just life, which have been clarified for us in Jesus Christ.”

Regensburg (Agenzia Fides) - After the meeting with representatives of the world of science at the University of Regensburg, Pope Benedict XVI was driven to Regensburg Cathedral to preside ecumenical Vespers. The Pope was joined by representatives of the other Christian confessions in Bavaria Orthodox Christians and Lutherans. The members of the Ecumenical Commission of the German Bishops’ Conference were also among those present.
In his homily the Pope said: “This is an hour of gratitude for the fact that we thus recite together the Psalms, and, by turning to the Lord, at the same time grow in unity among ourselves.”. After greeting the representatives of the other Christian communities present and expressing satisfaction for progress and initiatives in ecumenism, including the resuming in Belgrade of theological dialogue on the fundamental theme of koinonia-comunione, Pope Benedict XVI reflected on the Vespers Scripture reading, a passage from the Letter of Saint dwelling on three statements.
"The central theme of the whole letter appears in verse 15: “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God”… John spells out…the confessio, that ultimately distinguishes us as Christians: faith in the fact that Jesus is the Son of God who has come in the flesh. "… In this time of interreligious encounters we are easily tempted to attenuate somewhat this central confession or indeed even to hide it. But by doing this we do not do a service to encounter or dialogue. We only make God less accessible to others and to ourselves.”.
The second point: " is found in verse 14, where we read: “And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Saviour of the world”. The central word in this sentence is: μαρτυρουˆ μεν - we bear witness, we are witnesses. The Profession of Faith must become witness. The root word μάρτυς brings to mind the fact that a witness of Jesus Christ must affirm by his whole existence, in life and death, the testimony he gives. The author of the Letter says of himself: “We have seen” (cf. 1:1). Because he has seen, he can be a witness … To be a witness of Jesus Christ means above all to bear witness to a certain way of living. In a world full of confusion we must again bear witness to the standards that make life truly life”.
The third word to which the Pope called attention was “agape - love”. “love as Saint John teaches us, has nothing of the sentimental or grandiose about it; it is something completely sober and realistic … love is truly the synthesis of the Law and the Prophets. In love everything is “fulfilled”; but this everything must daily be “filled out”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 14/9/2006 - righe 31, parole 438)