In an address at an ecumenical prayer service during his visit to Geneva Holy Father Pope Francis urged Christians to walk together in the Spirit even though ecumenism is often seen in the eyes of the world as “a great enterprise operating at a loss.” His words came during an address on Thursday at an ecumenical prayer service held at the headquarters of the World Council of Churches (WCC) during his one-day visit to Geneva to mark the WCC’s 70th anniversary.
As reported by en.vaticannews.va, His Holiness Pope Francis remarked that “For us Christians walking together is not a ploy to strengthen our own positions” and reminded his listeners that the Lord begs us for unity. It is challenging to walk in the Spirit because it means rejecting worldliness. It means opting for a mindset of service and growing in forgiveness. The thirst for material things blinds us to our companions along the way and we become slaves to unbridled consumerism.” Further, His Holiness added, “Divisions between Christians have often arisen because at their root, in the life of communities a worldly mindset has seeped in. Even some past attempts to end divisions among Christians failed miserably because they were chiefly inspired by a worldly way of thinking.”
Referring to the 70th anniversary of the WCC, the Pope urged his audience to “strengthen” their steps on the path towards Christian unity, by walking, praying and working together. The Pontiff concluded his address by saying that for us as Christians, “walking together is not a ploy to strengthen our own positions but an act of obedience to the Lord.”
