At this point the Cardinal launched an appeal: "we can and must give witness together to what we have in common which is much more than what divides us. Our common witness is needed in our modern world. Because when we speak in communion our voice is more convincing.” At the end, pointing out that "Mary is the woman of the blessed hope", the Cardinal said "this hope – not rooted in a superficial optimism but in fidelity to God is what we need for our ecumenical pilgrimage. We cannot escape nor surrender when difficulties arise and when success is not at hand. Often ecumenism, and the life of the whole Church, must go through the tunnel of darkness to get to the light of Easter. Hence, we need Mary’s hope. We need hope even in our present world. Sometimes there is a lack of perspective and we walk through the fog. Nobody, neither a nation nor the Church, can live without hope. Without hope there is no enthusiasm and no courage to pursue great objectives and longings".
