Vatican City, Dec 21, 2003 / 22:00 pm
During the traditional Christmas gathering with cardinals, archbishops, bishops and members of the Roman Curia, Pope John Paul recalled this Monday that Christ should be at the center of their lives as a way to give a faithful witness to the world.
At the beginning of his speech, the Pope recalled that the first gathering with members of the Curia took place exactly twenty-five years ago on December 22, 1978, and he thanked them for the service they render to the Successor of Peter.
“The purpose that moves us is the same: to announce the Gospel of Christ for the salvation of the world. It is a mission that we want to carry out with a spirit of faith and with our soul ready for sacrifice, if necessary, even to the 'passio sanguinis' (shedding of blood.) May we never fail to be faithful to the One Who has linked us intimately to His priesthood! May He and only He always be at the center of our life: Christ! With the passage of the years, I am more and more convinced that Jesus asks us to be His witnesses, concerned solely about His glory and the well-being of souls.”
John Paul II emphasized that the “awareness of Christ's desire for unity among believers - 'ut unum sint' (‘may they be one’)- has moved me to intensify ecumenical contacts with representatives of the venerated Orthodox Churches, with the primate of the Anglican Communion and leaders of the other ecclesial Churches and communities.”