杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

鈥淥ur mission as Christians is to bring the fulfilment of this reconciliation to the world, with the Church being the instrument and visible sign of the unity to which God calls all people,鈥� says 杏MAP导航 Francis in his .

The 杏MAP导航鈥檚 message was read by Cardinal Kurt Koch, the Prefect for the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, who is leading the Catholic delegation to the meeting.

The Holy Father notes in his message that the Catholic Church has been sending observers to the Assemblies since 1901, and says the presence of the delegation at this Assembly is a sign of the 鈥渟trong relationship鈥� between the Church and the WCC.

A timely invitation

In his message, 杏MAP导航 Francis focuses on the theme of the Assembly 鈥� 鈥淐hrist鈥檚 love moves the world to reconciliation and unity鈥� 鈥� which he calls 鈥渁 timely invitation鈥� for Christians to work for even greater unity among themselves, and to foster reconciliation around the world.

He emphasizes that the 鈥渟earch for reconciliation and unity has, above all, a vertical dimension,鈥� recalling that it is ultimately directed to God, who has reconciled humanity to Himself through Christ.鈥�

At the same time, he warns of the 鈥減erennial temptation to accommodate the evangelical message to worldly ways of thinking,鈥� and reminds Christians that they can bear convincing witness to reconciliation only if they are faithful to the Lord.

Ecumenism and mission belong together

This also requires a commitment among Christians to work for unity among themselves: 鈥淩econciliation among Christian is the fundamental prerequisite for the credible mission of the Church,鈥� he says, adding, 鈥淓cumenism and mission belong together and are interrelated.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis concludes his message with the hope that the 鈥渞econciled diversity鈥� of the Assembly of the WCC might strengthen and deepen communion among all, so that Christian unity may be an ever more radiant sign of hope and comfort for humanity."

And he prays that the Assembly might 鈥渂ring the world closer to reconciliation and unity, with the power and light of the Holy Spirit.鈥�