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Skriven 2007-01-19 21:41:36 av Marc Lewis (1:396/45)
Ärende: Vatican Information Service (Press Release)
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                               VIS-Press releases

FOLLOW PATH TO CHRISTIAN UNITY WITHOUT DISCOURAGEMENT

VATICAN CITY, JAN 17, 2007 (VIS) - The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity,
which begins tomorrow, was the focus of Benedict XVI's catechesis during his
general audience, held this morning in the Paul VI Hall in the presence of more
than 6,000 people.

"Unity," said the Pope, "is a gift from God and the fruit of the action of His
Spirit. For this reason it is important to pray. The closer we draw to Christ,
converting ourselves to His love, the closer we also draw to one another."

The Holy Father recalled the theme of this year's Week of Prayer for Christian
Unity, taken from the Gospel of St. Mark: "He even makes the deaf to hear and
the mute to speak." This phrase, he explained "by highlighting two aspects of
the mission of each Christian community - announcing the Gospel and giving
witness of charity - also underlines how important it is to translate Christ's
message into real initiatives of solidarity. This advances the journey towards
unity because ... all relief Christians together bring to their fellows,
however small, also contributes to making their communion more visible."

"The road to unity remains long and difficult, but we must not be discouraged,
and continue our journey, relying on the sure support of Christ" said the Pope.
He also noted how he had had the opportunity to note, over years of meetings
with representatives from other Churches and ecclesial communities, "and in a
particularly moving way, during my recent visit to the Ecumenical Patriarch
Bartholomew I in Istanbul, how deeply felt the desire for unity is. ... That
experience and others like it, have brought hope to my heart."

The Pope mentioned the fact that today, in some countries, is the Day for
Dialogue between Jews and Christians, and he recalled some high points in the
"mutual friendship" between the two communities, such as Vatican Council II and
John Paul II's visit to the synagogue of Rome in April 1986.

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity will come to an end on January 25 with
the celebration of Vespers presided by the Holy Father in the basilica of St.
Paul's Outside-the-Walls, in the presence of representatives from other
Churches and Christian communities.
AG/CHRISTIAN UNITY/...VIS 070117 (390)

SUMMARY

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