Ecumenism
“More than two hundred years have passed since the first public Anglican liturgy was held in Rome for a group of English residents in this part of the city. A great deal has changed in Rome and in the world since then”. Pope Francis said this at the beginning of his homily delivered yesterday during the Vespers with the community of All Saints’ Church in Rome, the first Anglican Church to be visited by the Pontiff. “In the course of these two centuries, much has also changed between Anglicans and Catholics, who in the past viewed each other with suspicion and hostility”, Pope Francis explained. “Today, with gratitude to God, we recognize one another as we truly are: brothers and sisters in Christ, through our common baptism. As friends and pilgrims, we wish to walk the path together, to follow our Lord Jesus Christ together”. “Divine mercy is the source of the whole Christian ministry”, Pope Francis said, exhorting everyone to imitate St Paul who, “by living his ministry in the light of mercy received, does not give up in the face of divisions, but devotes himself to reconciliation”. Hence an invitation to become “humble”, that is to say, to draw “attention away from oneself, recognizing one’s dependence on God as a beggar of mercy: this is the starting point so that God may work in us”. “We are but earthen vessels, yet we keep within us the greatest treasure in the world”, the image used by Pope Francis, inspired by St Paul: the Lord performs wonders where “human misery opens itself to God’s merciful action”. “Only in realizing we are weak earthen vessels, sinners always in need of mercy, can the treasure of God be poured into us and through us upon others. Otherwise, we will merely be full of our treasures, which are corrupted and spoiled in seemingly beautiful vessels. If we recognize our weakness and ask for forgiveness, then the healing mercy of God will shine in us and will be visible to those outside”.
