Pope Benedict XVI “cordially greets all the members of the Reformed Church of France, assuring them of his prayers”. The Pope’s message to the French Reformed Church meeting for its Synod from 5 to 8 May was forwarded through the Catholic archbishop of Aix-en-Provence, Msgr. Claude Feidt. This is the first time that a papal message has been sent to a Synod of the Reformed Church of France (ERF). The Pope’s letter, sent to Archbishop Feidt by the Vatican Secretariat of State, continues as follows: “By meditating on the importance of faith in God in contemporary society, and in their concern to journey towards the unity of all the disciples of Christ, may the members of the Synod boldly embrace their role of proclaiming the Gospel, and so give witness, by their words and deeds, to He who came to visit all those who await salvation and lead them towards the Father!”. The Protestant Federation of France (FPF) of which the ERF is the leading member had, after the election of Joseph Ratzinger as pope, expressed some misgivings about the ecumenical credentials of the new pope and asked him for “a sign of ecumenical openness”. This sign arrived at the first opportunity. “If it is a genuine sign, we will take it seriously”, said Pastor Marcel Manoël, chairman of the ERF, in a statement to the Catholic daily “La Croix”.
