Ecumenism: statements and thoughts

There is no doubt that a major obstacle to the effectiveness of the pilgrim people of God is the most frustrating disunity within its ranks.

We all have to reflect on the various pronouncements made by Popes and on the several reflections of the various members of the Christian community on ecumenism and its relevant problems and ongoing challenges.

Perhaps one important reflection is that of Paul VI. He once asked whether this disunity was not one of the great sickness as of evangelisation today (Evangelii Nuntiandi, n: 77). Indeed, we Christians have now reached a stage in our tiring journey together when we will have to face, honestly and courageously, the various obstacles, which still lie ahead, and the various unresolved questions.

At the same time it has to be pointed out that some of these problems have somehow been tackled in conversations between ourselves and other Christian Churches.

At this point, one is so pleased to refer to the very important speech of John Paul II, on ecumenism, at Mdina Cathedral on May 27, 1990, during his pastoral visit to Malta.

At that ecumenical meeting the Holy Father said: "Today, as we approach the third millennium of the Christian era, it is incumbent upon all of us who have been baptised into Christ to bear strong and ever more united witness to him. The difference which prevents us from enjoying the fullness of unity in faith and sacramental life which is the will of Christ for his followers should not detract us from the wonder of what we have in common: a personal saviour who died and rose that we might live."

John Paul II was pleased to share this reflection with the participants at the ecumenical meeting at Mdina: "It is in the context of these reflections that I would take the opportunity of commending the work of the Catholics Ecumenical Commission. The Maltese people are almost entirely Catholic and other Christians mostly come from overseas. Yet the Catholics of Malta have not failed to as that "the Catholic Church (grasp) is committed to the ecumenical movement with an irrevocable decision and desires to contribute to it with all its possibilities" (Address to the Roman Curia, June 29, 1985).

On his first official trip outside Rome, since his election on April 19, Pope Benedict XVI, for the Eucharistic Congress in Bari, on May 29, reached out to Eastern Orthodox Christians, pledging to work "with all my energy" towards a united Christendom.

During his homily, Pope Benedict emphasised that the Eucharist is the sacrament of unity, and that the Christ encountered in the Eucharist "is the one and same Christ present in the Eucharistic bread all over the world. This means we can encounter him only together with everyone else. We can only receive him in unity."

The Holy Father concluded with this paternal appeal: "I ask you all to start decisively down the road to that spiritual ecumenism."