Pope Francis marks 50 years of Methodist-Catholic
dialogue
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis met with leaders of the World Methodist
Council on Thursday, celebrating fifty years of dialogue between
the two Churches.
Noting that in the Old Testament, a golden jubilee was a
moment to set slaves free, the pope said “we too have been freed from the
slavery of estrangement and mutual suspicion”.
After fifty years of patient dialogue, he said, “we are no
longer strangers” but rather, through our shared Baptism, “members of the
household of God”.
True dialogue, the pope continued, gives us courage to
encounter one another in humility and sincerity” as we seek to learn from each
other.
Wesley's example of holiness
Speaking about the 18th century preacher John Wesley, who,
with his brother Charles founded the Methodist movement, Pope Francis said his
words and his example of holiness brought many people to Christ. When we
recognize the working of the Holy Spirit in other Christian confessions, he
said, “we cannot fail to rejoice”, as they can “also help us grow closer to the
Lord”.
Serving the poor together
The pope also noted how our faith becomes tangible when it
takes the concrete form of love and service to the poor and marginalized. As
Methodists and Catholics together, when we assist those who are alienated or in
need, he said, we are responding to the Lord’s summons.
Become ministers of reconciliation
We cannot grow in holiness without growing in communion,
Pope Francis concluded. As you begin a new phase of dialogue devoted to
reconciliation, may your discussions be a gift for Christians everywhere to
become ministers of reconciliation. Let us prepare ourselves with humble hope
and concrete efforts, he said, for that full recognition which will enable us
to join one another in the breaking of bread together.
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