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Skriven 2006-01-23 18:14:44 av Marc Lewis (1:396/45)
Ärende: Vatican Information Service (Press Release)
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                The following press release is Copyrighted by the
                          Vatican Information Service.
                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                               VIS-Press releases

PRAYER FOR UNITY IS THE SOUL OF THE ECUMENICAL MOVEMENT

VATICAN CITY, JAN 22, 2006 (VIS) - The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity,
celebrated every year from January 18 to 25, provided the main theme of
Benedict XVI's reflections prior to praying the Angelus with pilgrims gathered
in St. Peter's Square.

The Pope explained how the Prayer Week initiative had begun in the early years
of the twentieth century and has now become "an ecumenical point of reference
in which Christians from various confessions all over the world pray and
reflect, on the basis of a single biblical text." He went on to recall how this
year's theme comes from the Gospel of Matthew: "If two or three of you agree on
earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.
For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them."

The Pope continued: "How much faith and how much hope do these words of the
Lord Jesus infuse! In particular, they encourage Christians to ask God together
for that full unity among them, for which Christ Himself ... prayed to the
Father during the Last Supper. It is easy to understand, then, why we
Christians invoke the gift of unity. ... If we do so with faith, we may be sure
that our request will be satisfied. We do not know how, nor when, because it is
not for us to know these things, but we must not doubt that one day we will be
'a single thing,' just as Jesus and the Father are united in the Holy Spirit.

"Prayer for unity," he said, "constitutes the soul of the ecumenical movement,
which ... is developing throughout the world. Of course, there is no shortage
of difficulties and trials, but even these are not without spiritual benefits
because they encourage us to exercise patience and perseverance, and to grow in
fraternal charity. God is love, and only by converting to Him and accepting His
Word will we find ourselves united in the single mystical Body of Christ."

"The expression 'God is love,' which in Latin is 'Deus caritas est'," Benedict
XVI concluded, "is the title of my first Encyclical, which will be published
this Wednesday, January 25, Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul. I am pleased
that it coincides with the conclusion of the Week of Prayer for Christian
Unity. That day I will go to the basilica of St. Paul's Outside-the- Walls to
preside at Vespers in which representatives of other Churches and ecclesial
communities will also participate."

After praying the Angelus, the Pope mentioned the situation of African
countries, in particular Cote d'Ivoire "where serious tension persists among
the various social and political groups of the country. To everyone I address
an appeal to continue with constructive dialogue, with a view to reconciliation
and peace. I entrust these intentions to the intercession of the Holy Virgin,
so much beloved by the people of the Cote d'Ivoire."
ANG/CHRISTIAN UNITY:ENCYCLICAL/... VIS 060123 (510)

SUMMARY

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