wfn.org | New Finnish Archbishop meets Pope John Paul II

[FRANK_IMHOFF.parti@ecunet.org (FRANK IMHOFF)]

Pope commends relations between Lutherans and Catholics

TURKU(Finland)/ROME(Italy)/GENEVA, 31 January 1999 (lwi)   Pope John Paul
II has commended the good relations existing between the Evangelical
Lutheran Church of Finland (ELCF) and the Roman Catholic Church and
expressed hope that the relations will become stronger.

According to the ELCF church information center, the pope made these
comments after holding discussions in Rome with newly consecrated Finnish
Archbishop Jukka Paarma.

The church information center quoted the pope describing Archbishop
Paarma's visit during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, as a
"positive sign that the good relations between the Lutheran Church of
Finland and the Catholic Church will continue to become even stronger as
we strive to move forward in our joint quest for the restoration of that
unity which Christ desired for his followers."

The president of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian
Unity Cardinal Edward Cassidy, in an ecumenical meeting with the Finnish
archbishop, expressed satisfaction about the Joint Declaration on the
Doctrine of Justification between Lutherans and Roman Catholics, adding
that he regarded the declaration as a fruit of the Week of Prayer for
Christian Unity. Archbishop Paarma, on his part, stressed that "those who
pray together cannot be far away from each other."

Archbishop Paarma delivered a sermon in the Lutheran Church of Christ in
Rome, and discussed with the representatives of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Italy about strengthening the participation of Finnish
immigrants within this church.

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Lutheran World Information
Assistant Editor, English: Pauline Mumia
E-mail: pmu@lutheranworld.org
http://www.lutheranworld.org/