The imperative of unity

Bearing witness of the “living God” is “the most urgent imperative for all Christians” which “unities us, despite incomplete ecclesial communion we are experiencing today” Benedict XVI told the members and consultors of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, received in audience on the occasion of their plenary assembly, on the wake of the last Synod and of opening of the Year of the Faith, dedicated to “The importance of ecumenism in new evangelisation”.A common challenge. “We cannot follow a truly ecumenical path while ignoring the crisis of faith affecting vast areas of the world” and “we cannot ignore the many signs indicating a persistent need for spirituality, which is made manifest in various ways. The spiritual poverty of many of our contemporaries, who no longer perceive the absence of God in their lives as a form of deprivation, poses a challenge to all Christians”, the Pope said. In this framework Christians today are “are called upon to return to the essential, to the heart of our faith, to bear witness to the living God before the world, God who knows us and loves us, in whom we thrive, the God that awaits the answer of our love in everyday life”.Theological dialogue. In his address the Pope underlined “the importance of theological dialogue” that must be pursued “even when we cannot discern the possibility of re-establishing full communion in the near future”. Theological dialogue “facilitates our awareness, not only of resistance and obstacles, but also of the richness of experience, spiritual life and theological reflection, which become a stimulus for ever deeper testimony”. To this regard the Pope’s reminder is “not to forget that the aim of ecumenism is “visible unity between divided Christians”. He added: “”It is good to journey together towards this objective, provided that the Churches and ecclesial communities do not stop along the way, accepting the various contradictions between them as normal or as the best they can hope to achieve. It is, rather, in the full communion of faith, Sacraments and ministry that the strength of God, present and working in the world, will find concrete expression”. The Holy Father concluded: “unity cannot be fulfilled by men alone”. It “may come to us only from the Father”. “True ecumenism, recognising the primacy of divine action, demands above all patience, humility, and abandonment to the will of the Lord”.For a credible message. The speech by Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, to the Holy Father, on behalf of participants in the plenary was on the same wavelength. “If we bear joint witness of Jesus Christ, Son of God and Redeemer of the world, our Christian voice will be more credible”. With these words His Eminence explained why the Vatican dycastery has chosen the theme of “the importance of ecumenism for the new evangelization”. “All Christians are called to be ‘ready to give an answer’ to those who ask them ‘the reason for the hope’ they cherish”, the Cardinal said. “For the Apostle Peter we have to answer ‘with respect and warmth’ because ‘we have a righteous conscience.’ So today we are called to undertake a conscience examination to understand whether we can give a credible answer of our hope”. He added: “But a serious problem hinders us, namely, the ongoing division between Christians”. That division “questions our own credibility”.Evangelization must have an ecumenical dimension. “The ongoing quest for Christian unity – said card. Koch – should be understood as a contribution to the Year of Faith called by Your Holiness. The Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity wishes to devote its efforts to this important objective”. His Eminence thanked Benedict XVI: “We all know how much you hold dear the cause of Christian unity”. The “ecumenical rapprochement of Christians and the divided Churches was one of the major goals, namely, the spiritual dilemma, that led to call the Second Vatican Council. You, Holy Father, remain faithful to that commitment constantly reminding us that the great challenge of our times, the new evangelization, must also have an ecumenical dimension”, the Cardinal concluded.