The Catholic Church defines ecumenisms as the promotion of cooperation and unity among Christians.

In October of 2013, during an interview with Eugenio Scalfari an Italian journalist, Pope Francis said: “I believe , not in a Catholic God, there is no Catholic God.” In another interview with LaStampa (a morning newspaper in Turin), Pope Francis emphasized his commitment to ecumenism, stating: “For me, ecumenism is a priority. Today, we have ecumenism of blood. In some countries they kill Christians because they wear a cross or have a Bible, and before killing them they don’t ask if they are Anglicans, Lutherans, Catholics or orthodox. The blood is mixed.”  During the week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Pope Francis addressed the attendees of John 1:7 movement gathering, opining that “Division is the work of the Father of Lies” and 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, or Lutherans, Catholic or Apostolic…he doesn’t care! They are Christians. “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.”

Let us pray with Francis and our brothers of other faiths to find the common ground of our love of Christ that unites us.  Contributed by Mary Ann Lause. 

Interested in joining the Peace and Justice Ministry?  Call or text Saralou Hendrickson at 314-440-2020