‘We are living an ecumenism of blood,’ Pope says in video to Phoenix unity celebration
May 25, 2015
Pope Francis sent a video message to the Celebration of Christian Unity, an event that took place on May 23 at the Phoenix Convention Center.
The celebration was sponsored by the John 17 Movement, an organization founded by a Protestant pastor and whose leadership team includes a bishop, Catholic laymen, and evangelical Protestants.
“I will be with you spiritually and with all my heart,” the Pope said. “We will search together, we will pray together, for the grace of unity. The unity that is budding among us is that unity which begins under the seal of the one Baptism we have all received. It is the unity we are seeking along a common path. It is the spiritual unity of prayer for one another. It is the unity of our common labor on behalf of our brothers and sisters, and all those who believe in the sovereignty of Christ.”
Referring to Satan‐“the Father of Lies, the Father of Discord,”—the Pontiff added:
I feel like saying something that may sound controversial, or even heretical, perhaps. But there is someone who “knows” that, despite our differences, we are one. It is he who is persecuting us. It is he who is persecuting Christians today, he who is anointing us with (the blood of) martyrdom. He knows that Christians are disciples of Christ: that they are one, that they are brothers! He doesn’t care if they are Evangelicals, or Orthodox, Lutherans, Catholics or Apostolic…he doesn’t care! They are Christians. And that blood (of martyrdom) unites.
Today, dear brothers and sisters, we are living an “ecumenism of blood”. This must encourage us to do what we are doing today: to pray, to dialogue together, to shorten the distance between us, to strengthen our bonds of brotherhood.
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Further information:
- Video-messaggio del Santo Padre Francesco in occasione della Giornata di Unità Cristiana (Phoenix, 23 maggio 2015) (Holy See Press Office)
- John 17 Movement
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Posted by: unum -
May. 26, 2015 12:00 PM ET USA
These are powerful words from the Holy Father about the “ecumenism of blood” that binds all Christians together. I hope to hear them repeated and amplified by our bishops and pastors.
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Posted by: chady -
May. 26, 2015 7:40 AM ET USA
'There is one Body and one Spirit, just as there is one hope to which God has called you. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism; there is one God and Father of all men, who is Lord of all, works through all, and is in all.' Eph 4 v 4-6. I believe despite the incidents of history the Church of God is unshaken and unwavering, it is one and universal. Whatever Christian profession we are all disciples within the Body of Christ. We are 'living stones'interconnected working thru the Holy Spirit.
