ecumenism " "
An invitation to “continue the journey of ecumenical hope” and the promise to “intensify” efforts to “reach the day when Christians will be united in proclaiming the Gospel message of salvation for everyone” are contained in the message that Benedict XVI has addressed to the 9th General Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC) that opened at Porto Alegre, in Brazil, on 14 February. The Assembly with the title “God, in your grace, transform the earth” is being attended by over 700 official delegates, representing 340 Churches (Protestant, Anglican and Orthodox), plus several thousand guests and visitors. Though not officially forming part of the WCC, a delegation of the Catholic Church is also present at Porto Alegre; it is composed of 18 members and led by Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity. It was Kasper who read out the Pope’s message at the Assembly’s inaugural session. “In memory of our common baptismal faith in the one and Triune God writes the Pope the Catholic Church and the World Council of Churches seek ways of cooperating ever more effectively in the task of bearing witness to the divine love of God”. The Pope recalls the forty years of “fruitful collaboration” between the Catholic Church and the WCC. He ends his message by assuring his “spiritual closeness” and “re-affirming the intention of the Catholic Church to continue a firm partnership with the World Council of Churches in its important contribution to the ecumenical movement”. The Assembly has an extremely packed programme before it: it was conceived to give to all the participants the chance to take part in the reflection. “I hope says WCC general secretary, pastor Samuel Kobia that this Assembly, the first of the 21st century, will mark the start of a new era in the search for Christian unity and give the vision of a new culture and innovative concepts to the modern ecumenical movement”. The Churches in response to the challenge of peace, including the conflict in Iraq and the war on terrorism; solidarity with the African continent; the social and ethical questions that still divide the Churches; the participation of the young: these are just some of the major themes that will be discussed by the delegates at Porto Alegre. “We must never underestimate – says Kobia the real potential that the Churches have together, to help transform the world, in spite of the difficulties”.
