ECUMENICAL LITURGY: WE ARE CALLED TO BUILD UNITY

VATICAN CITY, JUN 10, 1999 (VIS) - This afternoon John Paul II travelled from Siedlce to Drohiczyn in eastern Poland where, at 5:45, he presided at an ecumenical celebration of the Word in which faithful from the Orthodox, Lutheran and other non-Catholic ecclesial communities in Poland participated.

The Pope said in his address: "Faith tells us that the unity of the Church is not only a hope for the future; in some measure unity already exists! It has not yet attained fully visible form among Christians. ... We are therefore called to build unity. The unity found at the beginning of the Church's life can never lose its essential value. We must note sadly, however, that this original unity has been seriously impaired through the centuries, and especially in the last millennium."

"We must all," the Holy Father exhorted, "examine our consciences regarding responsibility for the present divisions. We must admit the faults committed and pardon each other in turn."

Love "enables us to overcome the barriers of our own weaknesses and prejudices. ... On the eve of the third millennium, we must move more quickly towards full and fraternal reconciliation, so that in the next millennium with joined hands we can witness to salvation before a world which eagerly awaits this sign of unity."

The Pope went on: "Today I turn to our brothers and sisters of all Churches: Let us be open to the reconciling love of God. Let us open the doors of our minds and hearts, of the Churches and communities. ... Let us offer to our heavenly Father, to the Father of all Christians, the gift of a sincere desire for reconciliation, expressed in concrete actions."

John Paul II concluded by saying: "Only prayer can bring about a true 'metanoia' of heart. Prayer in fact has the power to unite all the baptized in the brotherhood of the children of God. ... I therefore urge all gathered here to pray fervently for full communion among our Churches. To move further along the path towards unity will demand our effort, kindness to each other, openness and a true experience of brotherhood in Christ."

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the Pope travelled by helicopter to Warsaw where he spent the night at the apostolic nunciature. This is his fifth visit to the capital during his pontificate - the previous occasions being 1979, 1983, 1987 and 1991.

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