Pope's massive effort for Ecumenism

From the beginning of his Petrine ministry, Pope Benedict XVI has made commitment to ecumenism a priority of his pontificate. One remembers very well what he stated on April 20, 2005, in a homily delivered in the Sistine Chapel the day after his election: "The present successor of Peter feels personally responsible in this regard, and is prepared to do everything in his power to advance the fundamental cause of ecumenism. In the footsteps of his predecessors, he is fully determined to encourage every initiative that seems appropriate for promoting contacts and understanding with the representatives of the different churches and ecumenical communities."

In line with his great predecessors, Pope Benedict often refers to the Decree on Ecumenism (Unitatis Redintegratio) which says: "Concern for restoring unity pertains to the whole Church, faithful and clergy alike. It extends to everyone according to the potential of each, whether it is exercised in daily Christian living or in theological and historical studies."

Much to the Holy Father's sustained effort, it does seem that ecumenism has picked up considerable momentum after a fairly long period on a rather slow gear. As the Holy Father's energies at his advanced age do not help him to undertake long and frequent travels as his predecessor, he surely can spend much more time in the Vatican and accomplish a more intensive programme. Serious problems and great challenges require precious time, consultation and contact with episcopal conferences.

Worthy of special mention is Pope Benedict's address in his General Audience in Rome, on January 24, on the occasion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The main topic was meaningful ecumenism. The Pope stressed that ecumenism is a slow process, a slow uphill march, as a march of repentance is expected to be.

On the other hand, however, after the initial difficulties it also presents ample opportunities of happiness, refreshing stops, and from time to time, gives the chance to fill our lungs with the pure air of full communion.

The Holy Father availed himself of this general audience to give a résumé of the main ecumenical meetings in 2006. The year started with an official visit to the Vatican of the World Alliance of the Reformed Churches. This international alliance presented a document to the respective authorities of a long dialogue that started in 1970. The title of the document is: "The Church as a Community of Common Witness of the Kingdom of God".

In January 25, 2006, on the solemn occasion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, there was a meeting of delegates for ecumenism in Europe and the Europe Episcopal Conferences as a preparation for the third European Ecumenical Assembly which will be held in an Orthodox region, at Sibiu, Romania, next September.

The Holy Father has also received a delegation of the World Baptist Alliance of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

He was also delighted to receive the hierarchy at the Greek Orthodox Church in Georgia. On another occasion the Holy Father spoke about the meeting of the "Summit of Religious Heads" held in Moscow in July. He also referred to the visit of the Metropolitan Kirill of the Patriarchate of Moscow with the aim of normalising bilateral relations. Pope Benedict also mentioned with great pleasure the cordial visit of the Secretaries of the Christian World Communions.

The Pope also showed his great appreciation of the official visit of the Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of the Anglican Communion in November. The Holy Father and the Anglican Archbishop spent time in prayer together in the Redemptoris Mater chapel.

After expressing his great satisfaction at his highly rewarding apostolic visit to His Holiness Bartholomew I in Turkey, Pope Benedict concluded the long list of ecumenical initiatives and encounters in 2006; he said he was very appreciative of His Beatitude Christodoulos' official visit, as Archbishop of Athens, to Rome. A very cordial visit indeed.

Pope Benedict has been teaching all the time that we cannot be satisfied with remaining at intermediate stages but must ceaselessly and with courage and humility seek the will of Jesus Christ, even if He does not correspond to our simple human projects.