Church
of Scotland Moderator invites Pope Francis to visit
(Vatican
Radio) The Moderator of the Church of Scotland on Monday invited Pope Francis
to visit the country which, he says, has overcome sectarian strife to become a
place where ecumenical relations "have never been more cordial and
productive".
During
a meeting with the Right Reverend John Chalmers, Moderator of the General
Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Pope said all Christians are called to
seek ever more effective ways of overcoming old prejudices and to find new
forms of understanding and cooperation.
Speaking
in Italian, Pope Francis said our Churches “are presently confronted by such
great challenges that only by working together will we be able effectively to
serve the human family and enable the light of Christ to reach every dark
corner of our hearts and of our world”.
The
Kirk, as it’s is known, is the national Church of Scotland, founded in the wake
of the Scottish Reformation of 1560. Over the centuries since then, the country
has been plagued by bitter sectarian divisions between Catholics and
Protestants. But as Philippa Hitchen discovered when she spoke to Rev John
Chalmers, those conflicts have been replaced by a common Christian witness at
the service of those most in need ….
Below
please find the English translation of Pope Francis’ words to the Right Reverend
John Chalmers, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
Dear
Moderator,
Dear
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I
am happy to have this opportunity to meet this delegation from the Church of
Scotland, and to reaffirm our common commitment to the Gospel and to the cause
of Christian unity.
Scotland’s
rich cultural and historical traditions have been shaped by outstanding saintly
witnesses to Christ from various confessions. The present state of ecumenical
relations in Scotland clearly shows that what we, as Christians, hold in common
is greater than all that divides us. On this basis the Lord is calling us
to seek ever more effective ways to overcome old prejudices and to find new
forms of understanding and cooperation.
It
is heartening for me to see that the good relations between the Church of
Scotland and the Catholic Church have borne fruit in shared reflection on the
challenges posed by contemporary society, and that in many cases we are able to
speak with one voice on issues which deeply affect the lives of all Christians.
In our globalized and often confused world, a common Christian witness is a
necessary requisite for the effectiveness of our efforts to evangelize.
We
are pilgrims and we journey alongside one another. We need to learn to
have “sincere trust in our fellow pilgrims, putting aside all suspicion or
mistrust, and turn our gaze to what we are all seeking: the radiant peace of
God’s face” (cf. Evangelii Gaudium, 244).
Faith
and Christian witness are presently confronted by such great challenges that
only by working together will we be able effectively to serve the human family
and enable the light of Christ to reach every dark corner of our hearts and of
our world. May the journey of reconciliation and peace between our communities
continue to draw us closer, so that, prompted by the Holy Spirit, we may bring
life to all, and bring it in abundance (cf. Jn 10:10).
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