ONE WORLD RELIGION WATCH: Protestant leaders "inspired" after General Audience with "the pope"
Dialogue helps overcome old prejudices. This was the objective of the ecumenical meeting organized by the Focolare Movement.
"Christians" from more than 300 churches and ecclesial communities attended, and the highlight of the meeting was attending "the pope's" weekly catechesis.
POPE FRANCIS
"I greet the participants of the Ecumenical Week promoted by the Focolare Movement.”
MARK STRANGE
Scottish Episcopal Church (Anglican Communion)
"Unbelievable
really, I hadn't anticipated when I said I was coming to this trip that
I would end up here for the Audience. And then to be escorted to sit in
the front row, up there on the pavement was... well, I'm almost
speechless it was just quite incredible.”
COROMOTO JIMÉNEZ
Anglican Episcopal Church (Venezuela)
"It's an experience that everyone should have, because this is an atmosphere of hope."
They say they experienced a strong sense of communion in St. Peter's. They allowed themselves to soak up the atmosphere, which encourages them to continue working to build unity day-by-day, and overcome prejudices and obstacles.
CALLAN SLIPPER
Church of England (Anglican Communion)
"I
think the 'how' is easier to say than the 'what.' The how is by growing
in real love and that means a real friendship with one another. Because
as we grow in friendship, we learn to understand one another more. What
I would like to see more understanding of is of the reality of being
truly Church. Because sometimes, and I'm not saying it's true of all
Roman Catholics, but sometimes we are seen in effect as a second-class
Church.”
The Second Vatican Council gave a strong impetus to ecumenism. It ended a stage of mutual suspicion, and made a new way of dialogue with other Christians possible.
Since then, the popes following the Council have had important meetings. Most recently were the prayer in the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, the trip to Sweden to remember the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, and an October meeting with the Archbishop of Canterbury.
