"Never grow tired of praying for Christian unity", Pope tells crowd

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Sunday Angelus

Comments: 16

Vatican City, Jan 20, 2008 / 12:03 pm (CNA).- After greeting a throng of some 200,000 people who came to St. Peter’s Square to prayerfully support Pope Benedict, the Holy Father turned to the subject of his Angelus address, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The Pope exhorted the faithful in his reflections to “never grow tired of praying for unity among Christians!”

During this week of prayer, Catholics, Orthodox, Anglicans and Protestants, "implore the Lord together, in a more intense way, for the gift of communion," the Pontiff reminded the faithful.

The Pope acknowledged the Franciscan Friars and Sisters of the Atonement, the "spiritual sons and daughters" of Fr. Paul Wattson, who began the initiative 100 years ago and who was dedicated entirely to the work of healing divisions between Christians.

This year's theme for the week of prayer for Christian unity, "Pray always," is a "biblical theme that is dense with significance."

The Holy Father said, "With this appeal, St Paul wanted to make it understood that new life in Christ and in the Holy Spirit brings the capacity to overcome selfishness, to live together in peace and fraternal unity, and to bear willingly the sufferings of others. We must never grow tired of praying for unity among Christians!"

He continued, "When at the last supper, Jesus prayed that "they all might be one", he had in mind the precise end, "that the world believe." The evangelical mission of the Church is thus an ecumenical walk, a journey of unity in faith, in evangelical witness and authentic fraternity."

Concluding his Angelus reflection, the Pope invited everyone to participate in solemn Vespers on January 25, the conclusion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, at the basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls.

Comments: 16

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Jesse
Los Angeles, CA 05/20/2008 12:44 PM EST

John 9:
39 Then Jesus told him,[d] “I entered this world to render judgment—to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see[e] that they are blind.”
40 Some Pharisees who were standing nearby heard him and asked, “Are you saying we’re blind?”
41 “If you were blind, you wouldn’t be guilty,” Jesus replied. “But you remain guilty because you claim you can see.

Published by: Joanne Lemaire
Saguenay Quebec 01/26/2008 12:06 PM EST

I've had just about enough of eucumenism and decades of platitudes! The Catholic faith is the one true faith and no amount of "unity" can bring those outside the church to believe in Catholic dogmas..so what's the point? Saint Pope Pius X would turn in his grave!

Published by: Jorge Aguiar
Canada 01/22/2008 03:25 PM EST

Thank you, and well said Sally, for the others that don’t understand catholic teaching and make comments with out knowledge a suggest examining passages of Matthew 16:13-19 that provide biblical basis for the papacy. The keys mean authority, Peter is to be the leader of the disciples and Jesus holds Peter accountable for sleeping wile Christ was praying, (Mk. 14:37), Jesus gives Peter the responsibility to feed and protect the flock, (John 21:15-17) and Jesus tells Peter and the other disciples “he who hears you hears Me, and he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects My Father who sent Me.” (Lk. 10:16).

Brothers and sisters in Christ know what you are saying before making a comment.

God Bless you all!

Published by: Sally Morgan
Lancaster PA 01/22/2008 01:08 PM EST

It is sad but true that there is widespread misunderstanding about what Catholics really believe. No, we don't worship Mary, We merely give her the honor due to her as Jesus's mother. On the concept of sola scriptura where in the bible does it say By the bible alone? Well it doesn't. It clearly says that tradition and scripture are to be our guides. Sola fide is nonsense because faith without works is dead. If we really have faith is will be evident by our works. Catholic teaching is that salvation is not a one time decision, but a continual striving to do do what Jesus calls us to do. There are simply no Catholic doctrines that are unbiblical if one truly looks to find the truth. Try reading the Catechism of the Catholic church to find out what the Catholic church really teaches.

Published by: MICHAEL
LOS ANGELES,CA 01/22/2008 12:33 AM EST

Wassup with all you "Catholic-haters" & "Pope-haters"?

I guess anti-Catholicism is the last "safe" bigotry.

If you don't like our religion and/or our beliefs; no one is forcing you to believe them...

gezzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...give it a break! LOL

Published by: tami
redwood valley,CA USA 01/21/2008 11:19 PM EST

As a christian, how could I possibly have unity with a church that "thinks" to change the commandments of God. Go to your Bible and read the 2nd and 4th commandments and then look how the Catholic leaders have "changed" God's law.

Published by: Ed
USA 01/21/2008 09:37 PM EST

Translated: all Protestants must abandon their opposition to Rome and become Catholics. The arrogance of Catholics and their so-called "rock" continues on.

Published by: Phil
Monett, MO,USA 01/21/2008 08:45 PM EST

Sorry, Your Holiness. I couild never become a Catholic. Mass is boring and repetitive. The music is all unison and without a decent beat. I am always hopelessly lost in those prayerbooks. Plus, y'all do too many things that are not in the Bible. I Do believe that Catholics are saved the same way everyone else is: by faith in Jesus. I just don't get the reason for all that mumbo-jumbo.

Published by: Timothy
Detroit/MI/USA 01/21/2008 08:33 PM EST

I have a proposal: Let's just start over. We have everything we need: the Bible, the Holy Spirit, centuries of insightful writings of experience and scholarship from past and present Christians, other Christians who we can find in our neighborhoods, at work, wherever we go. Let's simply be the best followers of Jesus each of us can be and meet regularly with whatever group of Christians the Lord leads us among. Let's admit that centuries of additions to the Word have caused all of us, Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, etc., to miss the mark of Jesus' intention for His community, and that while it is valuable to learn from all of our experience, it is time to drop the man-made labels, institutions and systems and simply be disciples of Messiah. The greatest progress toward unity today, in my opinion, is the growth in number of believers who do not affiliate with any established church denomination or organization--the house churches in China and elsewhere, non-denominational fellowships, the Messianic Jewish movement, the vibrant network of para-church ministries. All aim to bear witness to the saving power of Jesus, and not to the goodness of any particular church.

Published by: Anita K
East Troy, WI 01/21/2008 02:19 PM EST

Rate: Good

The Bible states in Matthew 23:9, "And do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven." Neither, the Lord Jesus Christ nor his apostles were even called, or knowned, or asked to be called, "Holy Father." The pope needs to repent and all who call him, "Holy Father." This isn't the only thing the Catholic church errors in. But also in other Scriptural teachings. The Lord Jesus apostles and deciples didn't go around dressed in fine linen, and wearing a crown gold as the popes have.

Published by: john
W-S,NC/USA 01/21/2008 01:57 PM EST

Will the pope renounce the council of Trent? He calls for unity, but all calls protestants deficient or defective. Nearly 500 years after the Reformation, the truth of "sola scriptura, sola gratia and sola fide" have never been more apparent. There is indeed Christian unity already, for all true believers who believe that man is saved by faith in Jesus alone and not by works (so that no one may boast). Yes, in 2008, the church is still built upon the rock of Peter's confession, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. This is the bedrock of faith and of true Christian unity.
Amen.

Published by: Brett Blatchley`
Jacksonville, NC, USA 01/21/2008 01:40 PM EST

Did not the Pontif recently state that Protestants were NOT REAL Christians?

The bible says that those who put anything before Jesus are NOT REAL Christians; I would say that includes the Pope or Mary.

Published by: Scott
South Carolina, USA 01/21/2008 11:14 AM EST

And yet, is it not a form of pride that prevents the Catholic Church from not itself returning to the fold of the Orthodox Church? A review of early Church writings very clearly reveals the relationships between the churches. And though Catholicism may have developed some unfortunate doctrines since turning away from the true Church, that is nothing that cannot be fixed. I DO pray for unity, and for all in the Roman Church to return to the Orthodox Community.

Published by: dave z
chino valley az 01/21/2008 10:49 AM EST

What the Pope needs to call for is adherence to strict biblical doctrine, which would require some serious introspection. As long as the Catholic church continues to preach an un-biblical doctrine, there will be no unity. Jesus himself said "You think I came to bring peace on earth, no I tell you but division." Luke 12:51
As long as some preach a false gospel they need to be called on it.

Published by: Carl
Sterling/ VA/US 01/21/2008 09:53 AM EST

There is unity on the basic tenants of the Christian faith, such as the diety of Christ, his death and resurrection. The problem is with the theology of Mary, her status as the goddess of the Catholic Church. Also the teaching that Christ death was not enough to atone for man's sins, but man has to atone for them through purgatory. Also the many extra-biblical teachings that Catholics are suppose to accept as the same as scripture.

Published by: Jaime Garcia
Los Angeles, CA 01/20/2008 02:14 PM EST

As a "cradle Catholic" I find myself drifting away from it. My mother was in a home the dying. For years she was unable to give money to the Catholic. I had to cajole, plead, and pay a priest to do more than provide Extreme Unction. Now with Benedict, I washed my hands of the Catholic Church. Today, it is all about money and blind obedience. I am glad the Italian University protested him. I used to really love the Church. Sad.

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