“The desirable accomplishment of unity depends on God’s will, first of all” and “we Christians have the task of being the light of the world, in Europe and for all the peoples”. Those words were spoken by Pope Benedict XVI in the Basilica of San Paolo Fuori le Mura this afternoon, while He presided over the Vespers celebrated as conclusion of the Week of prayers for the unity of the Christians. By recalling the subject of the Week, “Wherever two or three get together in my name, I am in the middle of them”, the Pope affirmed that it is the presence of Christ which “renders the common prayer of those who get together in my name effective”. On referring to the forty years from “the first common prayer” (celebrated in that Basilica by Paul VI on December 5th, 1965, at the end of the Second Vatican Council), as well as to the tradition, preserved by John Paul II, to conclude the Week of prayer in the same place, Benedict XVI greeted “the brothers of the other Churches and Ecclesiastical Communities” of Rome and, in particular, He greeted the group of delegates of the Churches, Bishops’ conferences, Christian communities and ecumenical organizations that were present in the Basilica, also taking part to the first meeting in Rome, for preparing the Third European Ecumenical Meeting in Sibiu (Romania, 4-8 September 2007). “Yes, dear brothers and sisters – said the Pope, recalling the subject of the meeting (The light of Christ enlightens everybody. Hope for renewal and unity in Europe), – we Christians have the task of being the light of the world, in Europe and for all the peoples”. And He added: “The reconstruction of our unity will make evangelization more effective”. “How long the path before us is! However – it was the exhortation of Benedict XVI, – we do not lose trust; on the other hand, we resume our journey together, and with more enthusiasm”.
