11/7/2014

Pope Francis: A new stage in relations between Catholics and Evangelicals

Pope Francis: A new stage

in relations between
Catholics and
Evangelicals
2014-11-06 Vatican Radio
(Vatican Radio) In a meeting on Thursday
with a delegation from the World
Evangelical
Alliance,
Pope
Francis
expressed his confidence that the Holy
Spirit can inaugurate a new stage in the
relations
between
Catholics
and
Evangelicalsa stage that allows us to
realize more fully the will of the Lord to
bring the Gospel even to the furthest ends of the earth.
Pope Francis spoke about the Sacrament of Baptism as an inestimable divine
gift that all Christians have in common. The Sacrament of Baptism reminds us of
a fundamental and very consoling truth: that the Lord always goes before us with
His love and His grace The reign of God always precedes us, as does the
mystery of the unity of the Church.
The Holy Father frankly acknowledged the presence of divisions among Christians
from the beginning, and noted that rivalries and conflicts continue between
Christian communities. Such situations, he said, weaken our capacity to fulfil the
command of the Lord to preach the Gospel to all nations. Christians would be
able to better proclaim the Gospel if they could overcome their differences so that,
together, they might spread the Word of God and witness to Christian charity.

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11/7/2014

Pope Francis: A new stage in relations between Catholics and Evangelicals

Pope Francis said he was pleased to learn of efforts in various countries to build
better relations between Catholic and Evangelicals. He pointed especially to the
work of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the Theological
Commission of the World Evangelical Alliance. The Holy Father also expressed
his hope that a joint document, Christian Witness in a Multi-Religious World:
Recommendations for Conduct might become a motive of inspiration for the
proclamation of the Gospel in multi-religious contexts.
Below, please find the full text of the Holy Father's address to the delegation:
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who
gave Himself for our sins that He might rescue us from the present evil age in
accord with the will of our God and Father (Gal 1:3-4). With these words, the
Apostle Paul expresses our common faith, our common hope. I would like for this
my greeting, which proclaims that Jesus Christ is Lord and Saviour, to also reach
the members of your communities of origin.
In offering our whole will, with renewed love, to the service of the Gospel, we help
the Church to become ever more, in Christ and with Christ, the fruitful life of the
Lord until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to
mature manhood, to the extent of the full stature of Christ (Eph 4:13). This reality
has its foundation in Baptism, through which we participate in the fruits of the
death and resurrection of Christ. Baptism is an inestimable divine gift that we have
in common (cf. Gal 3:27). Thanks to it, we no longer live solely in the earthly
dimension, but in the power of the Spirit.
The Sacrament of Baptism reminds us of a fundamental and very consoling truth:
that the Lord always goes before us with His love and His grace. It precedes our
communities; it precedes, anticipates, and prepares the hearts of those who
proclaim the Gospel and of those who welcome the Gospel of Salvation. Reading
the Scriptures also makes it clear that the Gospel is not merely about our personal
relationship with God. Nor should our loving response to God be seen simply as
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Pope Francis: A new stage in relations between Catholics and Evangelicals

an accumulation of small personal gestures to individuals in need or a series of

acts aimed solely at easing our conscience. The Gospel is about the kingdom of
God (cf. Lk 4:43); it is about loving God who reigns in our world (Ap. Exhort.
Evangelii gaudium, 180). The reign of God always precedes us, as does the
mystery of the unity of the Church.
From the beginning there were divisions among Christians, and even now
unfortunately rivalries and conflicts remain between our communities. Such
situations weaken our capacity to fulfil the command of the Lord to preach the
Gospel to all nations (cf Mt 28:19-20). The reality of our divisions disfigures the
beauty of the seamless garment of Christ but never completely destroys the
profound unity generated by the grace in all the baptized (cf. Ec. Conc. Vat. II,
Decr. Unitatis redintegratio, 13). The efficacy of the Christian announcement would
certainly be greater if Christians would overcome their divisions and could
celebrate together the Sacraments and together spread the Word of God and
witness to charity.
I am pleased to learn that, in different countries in the world, Catholics and
Evangelicals have established relations of brotherhood and collaboration.
Furthermore, the joint efforts of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
and the Theological Commission of the World Evangelical Alliance have opened
new perspectives, clarifying misunderstandings, and showing ways to overcome
prejudices. I hope that such consultations can ultimately inspire our common
witness and our efforts as evangelizers: If we really believe in the abundantly free
working of the Holy Spirit, we can learn so much from one another! It is not just
about being better informed about others, but rather about reaping what the Spirit
has sown in them, which is also meant to be a gift for us (Ev. gaud., 246). I hope,
too, that the document Christian Witness in a Multi-Religious World:
Recommendations for Conduct may become a motive of inspiration for the
proclamation of the Gospel in multi-religious contexts.
Dear brothers and sisters, I am confident that the Holy Spirit, who inspires in the
Church, with his mighty breath, the courage to persevere and event to seek new
means of evangelization, can inaugurate a new stage in the relations between
Catholics and Evangelicalsa stage that allows us to realize more fully the will of
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Pope Francis: A new stage in relations between Catholics and Evangelicals

the Lord to bring the Gospel even to the furthest ends of the earth (cf. Acts 1:8). I
assure you of my prayers for this, and I ask you also to pray for me and for my
ministry. Thank you!
(from Vatican Radio)

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