Pope Francis promotes “ecumenism of blood”
In an audience with members of Christian World Communions, the biggest ecumenical international organisation, the Pope talked about “the ecumenism of prayer, work, and blood.”
Protestante Digital · ROME · 13 OCTOBER 2016 · 18:10 CET
Pope Francis received in audience the participants in the Conference of Secretaries of Christian World Communions, the international ecumenical organization that meets annually in October, each year in a different country, to improve mutual awareness.
This ecumenical organisation is made up of the Anglican Communion, the World Baptist Alliance, the Disciples Ecumenical Consultative Council, the Ecumenical Patriarchate (Eastern Orthodox), General Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists, the International Old Catholic Bishops’ Conference, the World Lutheran Foundation, the Mennonite World Conference, the Moravian Church Worldwide Unity Board, the Patriarchate of Moscow (Eastern Orthodox), the Pentecostals, the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (Catholic Church), the Reformed Ecumenical Council, the Salvation Army, the Friends World Committee for Consultation (Quakers), the World Convention of Churches of Christ, the World Evangelical Alliance and the World Methodist Council. A representative of the World Council of Churches is also usually present.
“ECUMENISM OF PRAYER AND WORK”
“Often we think that ecumenical work is only that of theologians. It is therefore important that theologians study, agree, and express their disagreement: this is very important. But in the meantime ecumenism journeys on. It journeys with Jesus, not ‘my Jesus against your Jesus’, but with our Jesus”, the pope said.
And added: “the journey is simple: it is made with prayer and the help of others. Praying together: the ecumenism of prayer, for each other and all for unity. And then, the ecumenism of work for the many who are in need, for many men and women who suffer today as a result of injustice, wars, these terrible things.”
“ECUMENISM OF BLOOD”
Francis pointed out that “when terrorists persecute Christian minorities or Christians, they do not ask: ‘Are you Lutheran? Are you Orthodox? Are you Catholic? Are you Reformed? Are you Pentecostal?’ No. ‘You are Christian’. They recognise only one: the Christian. The enemy is not wrong: he recognises where to find Jesus. And this is the ecumenism of blood.”
“Therefore, ecumenism in prayer, ecumenism in our journey, and the enemy teaches us the ecumenism of blood”, he concluded.
Published in: Evangelical Focus - life & tech - Pope Francis promotes “ecumenism of blood”