Pope Francis received a delegation from the Ecumenical Patriarchate in audience. The Pontiff, once again, reiterated the need and urgency of praying together for peace so that the war can end.
The audience with the delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
“Current history shows us in a tragic way the the need and urgency of praying together for peaceso that this war may end, the leaders of nations and the parties in conflict may find the path of harmony and all may recognize each other as brothers”. This was said by the Pope, receiving in audience a delegation from the Ecumenical Patriarchate. “Naturally, this call for peace extends to all ongoing conflicts, in particular to the war being fought in tormented Ukraine”, Francis continued, recalling the meeting for peace ten years ago in the Vatican Gardens, with the president of the State of Israel and the president of the State of Palestine.
Dialogue between the Churches
“The dialogue between our Churches does not entail any risk for the integrity of the faith.indeed, it is a need that arises from faithfulness to the Lord and leads us to the whole truth, through an exchange of gifts, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit”, reiterated the Pope, encouraging the work of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church, “who has undertaken the study of delicate historical and theological questions” and hoping that “the pastors and theologians involved in this path will go beyond purely academic disputes and willingly listen to what the Holy Spirit says to the life of the Church, as well as that what has already been the subject of study and agreement finds full reception in our communities and places of formation”. “There will always be resistance to this, everywhere, but we must move forward with courage.”, he added off the cuff.
From AgenSir
