From: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/...utheran-federation-conflict-to-communion.html Pope Francis urged everyone to pray the Our Father for the restoration of full Christian Unity, spoke of Catholics and Lutherans have moved and should move from conflict to communion, also mentioned our Orthodox brother and sister Christians, and the hoped-for Council of 2025 as a new step in the ecumenical journey. Thoughts? " Pope Francis shakes hands with Lutheran Archbishop Panti Filibus Musa, President of the Lutheran World Federation Pope to Lutherans: Christ accompanies us on journey toward communion Pope Francis meets with representatives of the Lutheran World Federation, and encourages Lutherans and Catholics to continue to tread the path from conflict to communion. By Devin Watkins On the 491st anniversary of the Augsburg Confession, the Pope met Friday with members of the Lutheran World Federation at an audience in the Vatican. In his address to the representatives, Pope Francis took note of the anniversary, and thanked the delegation for coming to Rome “to foster our unity.” The Augsburg Confession was an attempt to avoid a division in Western Christianity, and later became the primary Lutheran confessional document, describing what Lutherans believe, teach, and confess. Pope Francis recalled that Catholics and Lutherans came together in 1980 to recognize our common faith expressed in the text, which focuses on “one body… one baptism, one God”. One God The Pope then reflected on these three elements. He began with our common faith in one Triune God, as expressed at the Council of Nicaea in 325. “The Nicene Creed is a binding expression of faith,” he said, “not only for Catholics and Lutherans, but also for our Orthodox brothers and sisters and for many other Christian communities. It is a treasure we hold in common.” The Holy Father encouraged everyone to celebrate the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea in 2025 as a “new impulse to the ecumenical journey.” Listen to our report One baptism in Christ Pope Francis went on to consider the “one baptism for the forgiveness of sins” which unites all Christians. “Holy baptism is the primordial divine gift at the basis of all our religious efforts and our commitment to the achievement of full unity,” he said, adding that all progress toward overcoming divisions, healing memory, and reconciliation are grounded in the sacrament. The Pope pointed out that ecumenism is a “journey of grace”, more than an exercise of ecclesial diplomacy. “It depends not on human negotiations and agreements,” he said, “but on the grace of God, which purifies memories and hearts, overcomes attitudes of inflexibility and directs towards renewed communion: not towards reductive agreements or forms of irenic syncretism, but towards a reconciled unity amid differences.” And he encouraged Lutherans and Catholics to persevere in dialogue to achieve greater unity among the members of the body of Christ. One body The Pope continued reflecting on the theme of Christ’s “one body”, which he said we have wounded with our divisions. “When we are pained by divisions between Christians,” he said, “we draw close to Jesus’ own experience of seeing His disciples still disunited, His tunic rent.” Pope Francis added that we experience the Lord’s passion by not being able to share the same altar, even though we are filled with enthusiasm in seeking Christian unity. Conflict to communion He then urged everyone to continue “with passion on our journey from conflict to communion,” as Catholics and Lutherans explore the “close bonds united Church, ministry, and the Eucharist.” “It will be important to examine with spiritual and theological humility the circumstances that led to the divisions, trusting that, although it is impossible to undo the sad events of the past, it is possible to reinterpret them as part of a reconciled history.” Accompanied by the Lord Finally, Pope Francis recalled that Lutherans and Catholics are not alone as we tread the path from conflict to communion: “Christ accompanies us.” And he invited everyone present to pray the Our Father “for the restoration of full unity between Christians.”
First, thank you for posting this. Catholic-Lutheran reconciliation has been going on for years, well before Pope Francis, 25 years at least and probably well before that. However, the book and official record of previous talks as in the image I include makes for the driest reading for me, ever get a book and it is just almost unreadable but some sort of reconciliation has been in the works for years though I think it's only symbolic. The Lutheran church is so divided. They have like three main denominations, ELCA, WELS, LCMS. Now, the latter two, especially WELS are very conservative and have a number of values that I can relate too. LCMS (Lutheran Church Missouri Synod) made the old "Davey and Goliath" tv shows. Through very ancient documents actually dating back to Luther and Europe, one may sift out hostility towards the Catholic church and vice-versa but this is very much from centuries ago. I regret that I can not have a knee-jerk uninformed opinion and find this to be another thing to condemn PF and a church we are in schism with. I guess, I need to know more about being traditional and charitable.
Even freemasons get some things right from time to time; "If we do not hang together we will surely hang separately". Don't get me wrong I am of course no fan of them or their designs for ensuring world communism but whomever came up with this quote had a very valid point that is even more so valid to Christianity as a whole today IMO. The governments of several cities in the US and those state governors are openly supporting globalism which we all know is just another word for international communism. They are doing this by allowing thugs of the left red guard Antifa to openly persecute Christians in the public square with no recourse on our part. They openly mock us. Their goal of course is to run us all out of the public square completely and forever. The police arrest the Christian when he defends himself from attack while turning a blind eye to the attacker. In the event an attacker is actually detained they are released without charge by the cities district attorney. This happened today in fact in Portland where a small group of Christians had obtained permits for public worship in a park. They knew they were walking into the lions den but they did so willingly. Before they even began they were assaulted, their PA systems thrown into the river and destroyed while the police literally looked on and did not lift a finger in spite of families with children being present. They were maced, bludgeoned, and had projectiles thrown at them as well as stun grenades thrown in their midst. https://thepostmillennial.com/break...en-at-christian-prayer-event-in-portland-park This was a relatively small group of evangelical Christians. My take on this is pragmatic. If we fail to see the forest for the trees it will soon be too late. If we are continually divided among ourselves we will all hang separately and likely much faster than we would should we be bound together and suffer these hardships together as well for Christ in spite of our differences. I for the life of me can not figure out why our prelates are not calling this to the attention of all Catholics in our attempts to heal these divisions through mutual support. Surely they are aware of the growing threat to all Christian churches by these groups who seek a post Christian world. In fact, several of the churches in downtown Portland have had gasoline and threats left on their doors regarding it becoming a very hot summer. So maybe it will be that this willing ecumenicism being sought will instead come from the blood of martyrs of all Christian denominations fighting for their very survival, and suffering together.
I find it sometimes to understand what the Holy Father actually means. His comments are often very elliptical and enigmatic. Taking it on the surface of course it would be good if all the Protestant Sects returned to the One True Church. But is that actually what the Holy Father means or intends? I doubt it. He has a very bad record in dealing with Lutherans. There are very profound theological differences between them and us and it is no good pretending that they do not exist. To do so would be a bit like placing a sticking plaster on a cancer. Theology matters. There is not good pretending it doesn't. Truth matters, there is no good wishing these things away.
I keep hoping that I am totally misunderstanding the Holy Father at every level. That he is has been totally right in every thing he has said and done during his Pontificate. I would love that like crazy. It is a terrible thing for an ordinary simple Catholic to find himself again and again disagreeing widely from the Pontiff, who is the Vicar of Christ again and again and again. It is very like a child falling out with it's parents. I keep hoping all that has happened is some huge misunderstanding.
St JPII tried to bring believers together to face the common enemy. That was his mission or so he thought (according to malachi martin) and that would explain why he went along with Assisi meeting etc.
Catholic-Lutheran reconciliation in 2021? Ecumenical group asks Pope to lift excommunication of Luther BY CAMERON DOODY JUNE 3, 2020 SHARE An ecumenical group has asked Pope Francis to lift the excommunication of Martin Luther and in that way open the door to a new gesture of Catholic-Lutheran reconciliation. Key points – Mutual condemnations – The anathemas, “bumper blocks” on the path to unity – Chuches to mark fifth centenary of excommunication with joint worship service in Rome – Mutual condemnations Catholic-Lutheran reconciliation in 2021? Ecumenical group asks Pope to lift excommunication of Luther - Novena (novenanews.com)
Holy Fathers, Popes plural, have been dealing with this for decades, that should be as clear as a bell. The book says since 1961. Please no one give me a like for being aware of what this is all about. Me, me, me. Only if I say something negative about PF. Or talk about churches being threatened with being burned down, then, I am totally on topic.
Let them come to Mother Church (convert). I (born and raised Protestant, and until mid-2019) told my lapsed Catholic husband just last week that while Protestantism does have some power of the Holy Ghost within it, the Catholic Church is full and overflowing with the power of the Holy Ghost. It's like comparing skim milk to full-bodied cream. During those long Protestant years (mostly in the Nazarene denom), I wondered where are the miracles Jesus said we'd perform ... and even greater miracles than His? Where are the young women dreaming dreams? It's seldom in Protestantism, very seldom. In Catholicism it's many, MANY faithful throughout the centuries. Lutherans (I received infant baptism in my hometown's Lutheran church) should convert to Catholicism, "come home."
Lutherans believe in baptismal regeneration unlike most Protestant denominations; then they should honestly analyze whether the fruits of the reform were good; whereas there are thousands of Protestant denominations denying the need for the sacrament of baptism for salvation.
Ecumenism is good imho if it leads other Christian Denominations to seek Re-Union in the Church. Especially in regions where Christians are being persecuted today, it becomes a necessity. Ecumenism must be both Charitable and Doctrinal, to try to bring about the reunion of all Christians in the One, Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. Pope St. John Paul and Pope Benedict XVI worked on the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification with Lutheran and other Protestant churches. I believe Luther said the Immaculate Conception was a pious belief. It would be great if Lutherans accept the Catechism of the Catholic Church as the means for reunion. God Bless.
There is an Orthodox website with some details about Melanchton's attempts to forge an alliance with the Patriarch of Constantinople. Melamchton, a Greek scholar, made contact with the Orthodox in Venice, had the Lutheran Augsburg Confession ranslated into Greek and sent to the Patriarch. Melanchton died shortly after that. The Patriarch ignored the letter; the Lutherans decided he hadn't received it and made another attempt fifteen years alter. This time the messenger was told to wait for a response. They got a response after a long wait. According to the author of the article on the Orthodox website, the Patriarch was especially shocked at the Lutheran declaration that invoking the intercession of Saints is contrary to Scripture. In the end, the Lutherans got the brush-off. Here, for anyone who might be interested in finding out more about the Orthodox response, is a link to the Orthodox website: http://orthodoxinfo.com/inquirers/tca_luther.aspx. Warning: the website isn't for people easily offended by views of Catholicism held by some, perhaps a majority, of Greek Orthodox.
Sharing some thoughts on ecumenical outreach. Most Protestants do not have room for the idea of communion as a sacrifice because, according to them, Jesus paid the price of sin once and for all. They think of communion as a memorial service or a meal to share among brothers. The idea of mortal sin and venial sin makes no sense. In fact, some groups argue that once you have faith in Christ you can’t lose your salvation. Keeping the commandments is keeping the law to some, and is against the saving work of Christ.
I can see, too, the type of pride which says “ we do not need to have intercommunion with the Catholic Church. We have our own church.”
