Acta Francisci Pp. 133

IV

Ad Delegationem Oecumenicam Ecclesiae Lutheranae Finniae.*

Dear Brothers and Sisters, Your Eminence,

I offer you a cordial welcome, as once again this year you visit the

Bishop of Rome in the course of your traditional pilgrimage for the feast

of St. Henrik. I thank the Lutheran Bishop of Helsinki, Irja Askola, for her

kind greeting on your behalf.

Your ecumenical pilgrimage is an eloquent sign of the fact that, as Lutherans,

Orthodox and Catholics, you have recognized what unites you and together you

wish to bear witness to Jesus Christ, who is the foundation of unity.

In a special way, we can thank the Lord for the fruits of the dialogue

between Lutherans and Catholics. Here I think in particular of the com-

mon document on Justification in the Life of the Church. Building on these

foundations, your dialogue is making promising progress towards a shared

understanding, on the sacramental level, of Church, Eucharist and Ministry.

These steps forward, made together, lay a solid basis for a growing com-

munion of life in faith and spirituality, as your relations develop in a spirit

of serene discussion and fraternal sharing.

The common calling of all Christians is brought out well by the biblical

text for this year's Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which begins today:

"You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people,

in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out

of darkness into his marvellous light".1

In our dialogue, differences still remain in doctrine and in practice.

This must not discourage us, but instead spur us along our journey towards

ever greater unity, not least by working to overcome old ideas and suspi-

cions. In a world frequently torn by conflict and marked by secularism and

indifference, we are called to join in professing our faith in Jesus Christ,

and thus to become ever more credible witnesses of unity and promoters

of peace and reconciliation.

* Die 18 Ianuarii 2016. 1 1 Pet 2:9.