Pope
Francis: Shedding of blood shared Christian experience
(Vatican
Radio) Pope Francis has sent a Message to the Global Christian Forum, which is
holding a meeting in Tirana, Albania, under the theme “Discrimination,
Persecution, Martyrdom: Following Christ Together.”
“I
think with great sadness of the escalating discrimination and persecution
against Christians in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and elsewhere throughout
the world. Your gathering shows that, as Christians, we are not indifferent to
our suffering brothers and sisters,” writes Pope Francis.
“In
various parts of the world, the witness to Christ, even to the shedding of
blood, has become a shared experience of Catholics, Orthodox, Anglicans,
Protestants, Evangelicals and Pentecostals, which is deeper and stronger than
the differences which still separate our Churches and Ecclesial Communities.
The communio martyrum is the greatest sign of our journeying together,”
continues the Holy Father.
The
Global Christian Forum is one of the most inclusive ecumenical meetings, and
includes the participation of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian
Unity, Pentecostal World Fellowship, World Council of Churches, and the World
Evangelical Alliance.
“Your
gathering will give voice to the victims of such injustice and violence,
and seek to show the path that will lead the human family out of this tragic
situation;” Pope Francis tells the gathering.
“
With these sentiments, I assure you of my spiritual closeness. May the martyrs
of today, belonging to many Christian traditions, help us to understand that
all the baptised are members of the same Body of Christ, his Church (cf. I Cor
12:12-30)”- the Message continues - “Let us see this profound truth
as a call to persevere on our ecumenical journey towards full and visible
communion, growing more and more in love and mutual understanding.”
The
full text of the Message is below
His
Eminence Cardinal Kurt Koch
President
of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
I
extend greetings to you and all those participating in the Global Christian
Forum Consultation, to be held in Tirana from 2 to 4 November 2015, as you
reflect on the theme "Discrimination, persecution, martyrdom: following
Christ together".
In
a particular way, I wish to greet our brothers and sisters of different
Christian traditions who represent communities suffering for their
profession of faith in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. I think with
great sadness of the escalating discrimination and persecution against
Christians in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and elsewhere throughout the world.
Your gathering shows that, as Christians, we are not indifferent to our
suffering brothers and sisters. In various parts of the world, the witness to
Christ, even to the shedding of blood, has become a shared experience of
Catholics, Orthodox, Anglicans, Protestants, Evangelicals and Pentecostals,
which is deeper and stronger than the differences which still separate our
Churches and Ecclesial Communities. The communio martyrum is the greatest sign
of our journeying together.
At
the same time, your gathering will give voice to the victims of such injustice
and violence, and seek to show the path that will lead the human family out of
this tragic situation. With these sentiments, I assure you of my spiritual
closeness. May the martyrs of today, belonging to many Christian traditions,
help us to understand that all the baptised are members of the same Body of
Christ, his Church (cf. I Cor 12:12-30). Let us see this profound truth as a
call to persevere on our ecumenical journey towards full and visible communion,
growing more and more in love and mutual understanding.
From
the Vatican, 1 November 2015
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