"Lourdes is famous for its miracles and today we are also witnessing a special miracle." These words were spoken this afternoon by Cardinal Walter Kasper, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, during the public conference taking place in Lourdes at the Marian shrine. Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of the Anglican Church, also gave a speech. "Who could have imagined, only twenty or thirty years ago, that Catholics and Anglicans would be on a pilgrimage together as it is happening today?," said Cardinal Kasper. "For those who are aware of the past controversies and polemics between Catholics and non-Christians surrounding the person of Mary and those who know the reservations the non-Catholic world still has about pilgrimages to Marian sites such as Lourdes, the event of today is simply extraordinary, a kind of miracle. Well, we may say the whole ecumenical movement can be considered a miracle. After centuries of divisions, and often enmity, between Christians of different denominations, our modern times have marked the beginning of a pilgrimage towards unity, the unity Jesus had prayed for on the vigil of his death.” ” “
