wfn.org | Pope sends greetings to Lutherans, calls for greater commitment to unity

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Pope sends greetings to LWF Assembly
Calls for greater commitment to unity

HONG KONG, July 25, 1997 (lwi) - In greetings to the Lutheran World
Federation Assembly, Pope John Paul II said that in his meetings with
Lutherans around the world "the atmosphere of joy, mutual respect and
prayer which has characterized these meetings has been a great source of
encouragement for me and a genuine experience of the Lord's presence."

"My hope is that whenever Lutherans and Catholics come together to pray and
work for Christian unity the divine presence will give them the support
they need in the urgent task of bearing witness before the world to our
common faith in Jesus Christ and his saving message of freedom, peace and
love," he said.

"During my Pastoral Visit to Germany in 1996 I was able to affirm with
regard to the Lutheran/Catholic Theological Dialogue that "in the doctrine
of justification a broad reaching rapprochement has been achieved.

"Years of research and dialogue have in fact brought us to the point in
which we are able to consider officially a proposal for a joint declaration
on the doctrine of justification. The process of discernment of this
important text is not yet complete in either of our communities, but both
Catholics and Lutherans can undoubtedly see this moment as one of grace and
can say with the Psalmist: "I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole
heart;... I will sing praise to your name, O Most High" (Ps 9:1-2).

"As we seek to bring this process to a successful conclusion, we need to
keep before us the Lord's prayer for his disciples: 'that they may all be
one' (John 17:21). This has to be our motivation," he said.

"The progress made in our relations over the years since the Second Vatican
Council is a sign that the Lord is blessing our efforts. Our communities
throughout the world are closer now than before, for we have rediscovered a
brotherhood which is not the consequence of any mere philanthropy or vague
sentiment of fraternity, but one which is rooted in the recognition of the
oneness of baptism, our belonging to Christ and our subsequent duty to
glorify God in his work.

"As together we give thanks to God for the ecumenical path on which he is
leading us, I pray that with his grace Catholics and Lutherans will strive
with even more commitment to overcome the obstacles which still impede our
unity. With this hope alive in my heart I join you in imploring his
abundant blessings upon your meeting."

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